# Politics of Himachal Pradesh

The key political players in Himachal Pradesh state in north-west India are the Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party.
The politics of Himachal Pradesh are more associated with the regional divides of the state.
Based on electoral divide, the state can be divided as - Upper Himanchal consisting the districts of Shimla, Sirmaur and parts of Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Solan, Kinnaur and Chamba; and Lower Himachal consisting the districts of Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una and the lower region of Mandi district.The State was reorganised on 1966 through the Punjab Reorganisation Act by adding some parts of Punjab to the state of Himanchal Pradesh; and the parts of old Himachal and the newly merged areas too differ in their voting pattern.

## National politics

There are four Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian Parliament) constituencies in Himachal Pradesh.
| Election | Lok Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies |
| Election | Lok Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Kangra | Mandi | Hamirpur | Shimla | Mahasu | Chamba |
| 1951 | 1st Lok Sabha | | INC | 4 | INC | INC | INC | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1957 | 2nd Lok Sabha | | INC | 4 | INC | INC | INC | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1962 | 3rd Lok Sabha | | INC | 4 | INC | INC | INC | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1967 | 4th Lok Sabha | | INC | 6 | INC | INC | INC | INC | INC | INC |
| 1971 | 5th Lok Sabha | | INC | 4 | INC | INC | INC | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1977 | 6th Lok Sabha | | JP | 4 | JP | JP | JP | JP | Not There | Not There |
| 1980 | 7th Lok Sabha | | INC | 4 | INC | INC | INC | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1984 | 8th Lok Sabha | | INC | 4 | INC | INC | INC | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1989 | 9th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 4 | BJP | BJP | BJP | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1991 | 10th Lok Sabha | | BJP/INC | 4 | BJP | INC | BJP | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1996 | 11th Lok Sabha | | INC | 4 | INC | INC | INC | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1998 | 12th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 4 | BJP | BJP | BJP | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 1999 | 13th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 4 | BJP | BJP | BJP | HVC | Not There | Not There |
| 2004 | 14th Lok Sabha | | INC | 4 | INC | INC | BJP | INC | Not There | Not There |
| 2009 | 15th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 4 | BJP | INC | BJP | BJP | Not There | Not There |
| 2014 | 16th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 4 | BJP | BJP | BJP | BJP | Not There | Not There |
| 2019 | 17th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 4 | BJP | BJP | BJP | BJP | Not There | Not There |
| 2024 | 18th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 4 | BJP | BJP | BJP | BJP | Not There | Not There |

## State politics

The Himachal Pradesh's Legislative Assembly currently has 68 seats who are directly elected from single-seat constituencies. An election did not take place for 15 years after 1952 due to the enactment of the States Reorganisation Act in 1956 which designated Himachal Pradesh as a Union Territory instead of a Part-C state, falling under the direct control of the President of India. Accordingly, the Legislative Assembly was dissolved. This was later changed in 1963 when the Government of Union Territories Act was passed, providing Himachal with a Legislative Assembly and Chief Minister again. Election were first held again in 1967, after the Punjab Reorganisation Act (1966) was passed, transferring some territory to Himachal Pradesh. Eventually, Himachal Pradesh became a fully fledged state (the 18th of the Union) with the passing of The State of Himachal Pradesh Act in 1970.
The Indian National Congress dominated the state assembly throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, much like most of the nation. The state's first Chief Minister was Yashwant Singh Parmar, who led the region's early development post-Independence. Parmar is still widely celebrated to this day and is even called "The Founder of Himachal Pradesh". After differences with party leaders, Parmar eventually resigned in 1977 at the age of 71. Thakur Ram Lal served as the 2nd Chief Minister until the elections that year. However, in 1977, with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Emergency extremely unpopular throughout the nation, Congress were dealt heavy electoral blows. The state party lost in a landslide to the opposition Janata Party, with Shanta Kumar becoming the state's 3rd Chief Minister. His ministry only lasted for 3 years though, and after multiple party defections, Congress regained power in February 1980 with Ram Lal once again assuming the office of Chief Minister. This administration didn't last either, and after scandals and political turmoil, Ram Lal was forced to resign in 1983, a year after he'd narrowly won re-election. He was replaced by fellow Congress leader Virbhadra Singh. Ever since 1985, no incumbent party has managed to retain control of the Legislative Assembly, and power has flipped between the BJP and INC every few years.

### 1952 Legislative Assembly election

| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1952 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 24 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1952 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party | 3 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1952 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 8 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1952 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | Scheduled Caste Federation | 1 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1952 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 36 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |

### 1967 Legislative Assembly election

| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1967 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 34 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1967 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 16 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1967 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Jana Sangh | 7 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1967 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | Communist Party of India | 2 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1967 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | Swatantra Party | 1 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1967 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 60 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |

### 1972 Legislative Assembly election

| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1972 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 53 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1972 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 7 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1972 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Jana Sangh | 5 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1972 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | Lok Raj Party Himachal Pradesh | 2 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1972 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 1 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |
| 1972 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Yashwant Singh Parmar | INC |

### 1977 Legislative Assembly election

| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1977 | 4th Vidhan Sabha | | Janta Party | 53 | Shanta Kumar | JP |
| 1977 | 4th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 9 | Shanta Kumar | JP |
| 1977 | 4th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 6 | Shanta Kumar | JP |
| 1977 | 4th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Shanta Kumar | JP |

### 1982 Legislative Assembly election

| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1982 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 31 | Thakur Ram Lal | INC |
| 1982 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 29 | Thakur Ram Lal | INC |
| 1982 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 6 | Thakur Ram Lal | INC |
| 1982 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | | Janata Party | 2 | Thakur Ram Lal | INC |
| 1982 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Thakur Ram Lal | INC |

### 1985 Legislative Assembly election

| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1985 | 6th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 58 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 1985 | 6th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 7 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 1985 | 6th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 2 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 1985 | 6th Vidhan Sabha | | Lok Dal | 1 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 1985 | 6th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |

### 1990 Legislative Assembly election

| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1990 | 7th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 46 | Shanta Kumar | BJP |
| 1990 | 7th Vidhan Sabha | | Janata Dal | 11 | Shanta Kumar | BJP |
| 1990 | 7th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 9 | Shanta Kumar | BJP |
| 1990 | 7th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 1 | Shanta Kumar | BJP |
| 1990 | 7th Vidhan Sabha | | CPI | 1 | Shanta Kumar | BJP |
| 1990 | 7th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Shanta Kumar | BJP |

### 1993 Legislative Assembly election

| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1993 | 8th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 52 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 1993 | 8th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 8 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 1993 | 8th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 7 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 1993 | 8th Vidhan Sabha | | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 1 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 1993 | 8th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |

### 1998 Legislative Assembly election

Keys:  BJP (-)  INC (-)  BSP (-)  UKD/UKD(P) (-)  NCP (-)  Independent (-)  CPIM (-)
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 1998 | 9th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 31 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |
| 1998 | 9th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 31 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |
| 1998 | 9th Vidhan Sabha | | Himachal Vikas Congress | 5 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |
| 1998 | 9th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 1 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |
| 1998 | 9th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |

### 2003 Legislative Assembly election

Keys:  BJP (-)  INC (-)  BSP (-)  UKD/UKD(P) (-)  NCP (-)  Independent (-)  CPIM (-)
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 2003 | 10th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 43 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2003 | 10th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 16 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2003 | 10th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 6 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2003 | 10th Vidhan Sabha | | Himachal Vikas Congress | 1 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2003 | 10th Vidhan Sabha | | Lok Janshakti Party | 1 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2003 | 10th Vidhan Sabha | | Loktantrik Morcha Himachal Pradesh | 1 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2003 | 10th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |

### 2007 Legislative Assembly election

The 2007 Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly election were held in Himachal Pradesh in 2007.
Keys:  BJP (-)  INC (-)  BSP (-)  Independent (-)
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 2007 | 11th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 41 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |
| 2007 | 11th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 23 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |
| 2007 | 11th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 3 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |
| 2007 | 11th Vidhan Sabha | | Bahujan Samaj Party | 1 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |
| 2007 | 11th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Prem Kumar Dhumal | BJP |

### 2012 Legislative Assembly election

Keys:  BJP (-)  INC (-)  BSP (-)  UKD/UKD(P) (-)  NCP (-)  Independent (-)  CPIM (-)
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 2012 | 12th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 36 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2012 | 12th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 26 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2012 | 12th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 5 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2012 | 12th Vidhan Sabha | | Himachal Lokhit Party | 1 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |
| 2012 | 12th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Virbhadra Singh | INC |

### 2017 Legislative Assembly election

BJP won 44 out of 68 seats to form the government, ousting Congress party from power. Indian National Congress won 21 seats. Jai Ram Thakur was appointed as Chief Minister after the elections.
Keys:  BJP (-)  INC (-)  BSP (-)  UKD/UKD(P) (-)  NCP (-)  Independent (-)  CPIM (-)
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 2017 | 13th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 44 | Jai Ram Thakur | BJP |
| 2017 | 13th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 21 | Jai Ram Thakur | BJP |
| 2017 | 13th Vidhan Sabha | | Independent | 2 | Jai Ram Thakur | BJP |
| 2017 | 13th Vidhan Sabha | | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | 1 | Jai Ram Thakur | BJP |
| 2017 | 13th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Jai Ram Thakur | BJP |

### 2022 Legislative Assembly election

Keys:  INC (-)  BJP (-)  Independent (-)
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 2022 | 14th Vidhan Sabha | | Indian National Congress | 40 | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu | INC |
| 2022 | 14th Vidhan Sabha | | Bharatiya Janta Party | 28 | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu | INC |
| 2022 | 14th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 68 | Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu | INC |