The Pachchad Assembly Constituency has Reena Kashyap of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dyal Pyari from the Indian National Congress (INC), Ankush Chauhan of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Ashish Kumar of the Communist Party of India (CPIM) contesting for this year’s Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections.

Also Read | In Himachal polls, Congress relies on tradition, BJP on individual talent

Seasoned political observers believe that anti-incumbency, price rise, and unemployment will be the key issues in the state’s first election since the Covid-19 pandemic. Himachal Pradesh has been cyclically governed by the Congress and the BJP since 1985.

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

In 2017, Suresh Kumar Kashyap of the BJP defeated Gangu Ram Musafir of the Congress by 6,427 votes. Independents Rattan Singh Kashyap and Rajeev Kumar Kaundal also contested the elections in 2017. 

Also Read | 5 key battlegrounds in Himachal this poll season

Reena Kashyap is the sitting MLA of the Pachchad constituency. She was elected to the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Pachchad in the 2019 by-election as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. By-elections happened because Suresh Kumar Kashyap was elected to Parliament.

Pachchad is one of the 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh. Pachchad falls under the Sirmaur district and Shimla Lok Sabha Constituency. Pachchad has more than 76,000 eligible voters. This constituency is reserved for Schedule Caste candidates. 

In 2012, Suresh Kumar Kashyap of the BJP defeated Gangu Ram Musafir of the Congress by 2625 votes. Rangi Ram of the All India Trinamool Congress (ATMC), Ram Rattan of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Desh Raj of the Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), and Shanti Devi of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) also contested the HP Assembly Elections in 2012. 

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

Quick facts about the Pachchad Assembly seat  

Name of the assembly constituency, district: Pachchad, Sirmaur district

Polling date: November 12, 2022

Sitting MLA, party: Reena Kashyap, BJP

Key candidates, party in 2022: Ankush Chauhan (AAP), Reena Kashyap (BJP), Dyal Pyari (INC), Ashish Kumar (CPIM)

Winning candidate, party in 2017: Suresh Kumar Kashyap, BJP

Runner-up name, party 2017:   Gangu Ram Musafir, INC

Winning margin in 2017: 6,427

Top 3 candidates 2017: Suresh Kumar Kashyap (BJP), Rattan Singh Kashyap (Independent), Gangu Ram Musafir (INC)

Top 3 candidates 2012:  Suresh Kumar Kashyap (BJP), Gangu Ram Musafir (INC), Rangi Ram (AITMC)

Lok Sabha constituency: Shimla