Dharamshala Municipal Corporation Elections: Congress finalizes names of 7 candidates

April 28, 2026

With the announcement of the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation elections, political activity has intensified. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has finalized the names of councilor candidates for Dharamshala’s seven wards. By releasing its first list, Congress has made it clear that this time it will only rely on winning candidates.

Municipal Corporation Election Incharge and Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, RS Bali, announced the names of the candidates. He stated that Neenu Sharma, Anurag, Rajni Beas, Swarana Devi, Babita Sharma, Shailja, and Babita Oberoi have been fielded.

Discussions on remaining wards continue

RS Bali said that discussions on names for the remaining wards are still ongoing. The party will give tickets only to those workers who have the potential to win. He expressed confidence that Congress will retain control of the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation this time around, and a Congress councilor will occupy the mayor’s seat.

A matter of prestige for the Congress

Politically, the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation has become not just a local body for the Congress, but a center of prestige. The Congress has held power here for the past decade. Despite the BJP’s persistent efforts, the people of Dharamshala have maintained their trust in the Congress.

This election is also being considered a test of Chief Minister Sukhu’s popularity, as Dharamshala politics directly impacts the state’s future.

Increased pressure on the BJP

After the Congress announced the names of seven candidates, all eyes are now on the BJP’s strategy. While the Congress is claiming a hat-trick of victories and maintaining its dominance, the ongoing deliberations for the remaining wards indicate that the party is taking every step carefully this time.

There is talk in political circles that the Congress is bringing forward new and energetic faces to mitigate anti-incumbency and maintain its record of power over the past ten years. Now it remains to be seen how successful Sukhu’s team of ‘seven’ will be in saving this Congress stronghold.