The Jhandutta Assembly Constituency has Jeet Ram Katwal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vivek Kumar from the Indian National Congress (INC), Sudhir Suman of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a three-way contest for this year’s Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections. 

Himachal Pradesh has historically been cyclically governed by BJP and Congress since the 1985 elections.  However, this year, with the entry of the Kejriwal-led AAP in the HP elections, many anticipate that the political scenario of the state would get altered. 

Also Read | 5 key battlegrounds in Himachal this poll season

The BJP had won 44 of Himachal’s 68 assembly constituencies last time and the Congress had won 21. The CPI (M) had won one seat. A party needs to win 35 seats for a majority to form the government in the state.

In 2017, Jeet Ram Katwal of the BJP defeated Beeru Ram Kishore of the Congress by 4,962 votes.  

Jhandutta is one of the 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh. Jhandutta falls under the Bilaspur district and Hamirpur Lok Sabha Constituency. Jhandutta has more than 79,000 eligible voters. This constituency is reserved for Schedule Caste candidates.

In 2012, Rikhi Ram Kondal of the BJP defeated Dr Beeru Ram Kishore of the Congress by 1,199 votes. Kashmir Singh Jamwal of Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), Anup Chand Bhatia of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and an independent candidate Advocate Vijay Kumar Kaushal also contested the HP Assembly Elections in 2012. 

Also Read | 5 issues Himachalis will be voting on this election

Himachal Pradesh votes in a single round on November 12. Results will be announced on December 8.

Quick facts about the Jhandutta Assembly seat  

Name of the assembly constituency, district: Jhandutta, Bilaspur district

Polling date: November 12, 2022

Sitting MLA, party: Jeet Ram Katwal, BJP

Key candidates, party in 2022: Sudhir Suman (AAP), Jeet Ram Katwal (BJP), Vivek Kumar (INC)

Winning candidate, party in 2017: Jeet Ram Katwal, BJP

Runner-up name, party 2017:  Dr Beeru Ram Kishore, INC

Winning margin in 2017:  4,962

Top 2 candidates 2017: Jeet Ram Katwal (BJP),  Dr Beeru Ram Kishore (INC)

Top 3 candidates 2012: Rikhi Ram Kondal (BJP), Dr Beeru Ram Kishore (INC), Kashmir Singh Jamwal (HLP)

Lok Sabha constituency: Hamirpur