The Solan Assembly Constituency
has Rajesh Kashyap of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dhani Ram Shandil from
the Indian National Congress (INC), Anju Rathore of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in
a three-way contest for this year’s Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections.

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

Political analysts believe that issues such as anti-incumbency, price rises, and unemployment will be crucial in the state’s first election since the Covid-19 pandemic. Since 1985, Himachal Pradesh has been alternately ruled by Congress and BJP governments.

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, Dhani Ram Shandil of
the Indian National Congress (INC) defeated Rajesh Kashyap of the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) by 671 votes. Ajay Bhatti of the Communist Party of India
Marxist and an independent candidate, Shashi Kant Chauhan, also contested the
elections in 2017. 

Also Read | 5 key battlegrounds in Himachal this poll season

Solan is one of the 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh. Solan falls under the Solan
district and Shimla Lok Sabha Constituency. Solan has more than 85,000 eligible voters. This constituency is reserved for Schedule Caste candidates. 

In 2012, Dhani Ram Shandil of
the Indian National Congress (INC) defeated Kumari Sheela of the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) by 4,472 votes. Om Parkash Kant of the Himachal Lokhit Party
(HLP), Rajesh Kumar of the All India Trinamool Congress (ATMC), Prem Singh of the
Himachal Swabhiman Party (HSP), Rajesh Kumar Sautha of the Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP), and an independent candidate, Mohan Lal Chauhan 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. Elections
to the Gujarat assembly are also expected to be held in December this year. 

Quick facts about the Solan
Assembly seat  

Name of the assembly
constituency, district: Solan, Solan district

Polling date: November 12, 2022

Sitting MLA, party: Dhani Ram
Shandil, INC

Key candidates, party in 2022:
Anju Rathore (AAP), Rajesh Kashyap (BJP), Dhani Ram Shandil (INC)

Winning candidate, party in
2017: Dhani Ram Shandil, INC

Runner-up name, party
2017:  Rajesh Kashyap, BJP

Winning margin in 2017: 671

Top 3 candidates 2017: Rajesh
Kashyap (BJP), Dhani Ram Shandil (INC), Ajay Bhatti (CPM)

Top 3 candidates 2012: Dhani
Ram Shandil (INC), Kumari Sheela (BJP)

Lok Sabha constituency: Shimla