# Elections in Uttarakhand

Elections for the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly (Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha) in Uttarakhand state, India are conducted in accordance with the Constitution of India. The legislative assembly of Uttarakhand creates laws regarding the conduct of local body elections unilaterally while any changes by the state legislature to the conduct of state level elections need to be approved by the Parliament of India. In addition, the state legislature may be dismissed by the Parliament according to Article 356 of the Indian Constitution and President's rule may be imposed.

## Brief political history

Gangotri is considered a bellwether seat as it has voted for the winning party/alliance in every election since the state's formation. Ranikhet and Purola constituencies were considered a jinx for any party as they voted for the party which would sit in the opposition. However, this myth was broken in 2022, when the BJP formed the government while winning from both Ranikhet and Purola. It was also considered that every incubment government would face defeat in the next election and not get re-elected. However, in 2022 the BJP broke this myth and got re-elected with an absolute majority. It is also believed that every incubment chief minister loses their seat in the next election. This myth still holds true (barring the first election in 2002). In Uttarakhand, the single-largest party has always formed the government despite not getting the majority. Out of the 13 districts in Uttarakhand, 9 voted for the BJP in 2022, 2 for the congress and 2 were evenly split. Below is the election data of each district-

### Results by district

| Districts | Seats | BJP | INC | Others |
| Garhwal Division |||||
| Uttarkashi | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Chamoli | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Rudraprayag | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tehri Garhwal | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Dehradun | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Haridwar | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Pauri Garhwal | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Kumaon Division |||||
| Pithoragarh | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Bageshwar | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Almora | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Champawat | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nainital | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Udham Singh Nagar | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | 70 | 47 | 19 | 4 |

### Almora district

Most of the seats in the district were won by Congress in 2002 and 2007 while the BJP lead from the district in 2017 and 2022. It was evenly slit in 2012. It has shifted towards BJP since 2012.

### Bageshwar district

The district is considered a stronghold of the BJP as it won from this district in 2007,2017 and 2022. It was evenly split in 2002 and 2012.

### Champawat district

The district is considered a swing district as it was evenly split in 2007,2012 and 2022. The Congress and BJP won the district in 2002 and 2017 respectively.

### Dehradun district

It is considered as a stronghold of the BJP as it has voted majorly for the party in every election barring the 2002 election.

### Haridwar district

The BJP dominated this district in 2012 and 2017. The BSP dominated in 2002 and 2007 and the Congress in 2022.

### Nainital district

The district was won by the BJP in 2007,2017 and 2022 and by the Congress in 2002 and 2012. It has shifted towards the BJP in recent years.

### Pithoragarh district

It is another swing district as it was split evenly in 2002 and 2022. The BJP dominated the district in 2007 and 2017 and the Congress in 2012.

### Pauri Garhwal district

The district was dominated by the BJP in 2007, 2017 and 2022 and by the Congress in 2002. It was evenly split in 2012. It has shifted towards BJP in recent years.

### Rudraprayag district

The district was won by the BJP in 2002,2007 and 2022. The Congress won it in 2012 and it was split in 2017. It typically leans towards the BJP.

### Tehri Garhwal district

The district was won by the BJP in 2017 and 2022 and by the Congress in 2002. It was evenly split in 2007 and 2012. It has shifted towards the BJP in recent years.

### Udham Singh Nagar district

The district was won by the BJP in 2012 and 2017 and by the Congress in 2007 and 2022. It was split in 2002. It is another swing district.

## Major political parties

The Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress have been the most popular parties in the state since its inception. Other influential parties include, Bahujan Samaj Party, Aam Aadmi Party and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal. Samajwadi Party was also an influential party in the state but has now declined.

## Lok Sabha elections

Keys:  BJP (18)  INC (6)  SP (1)
| Election | Lok Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Constituencies | Ref. |
| Election | Lok Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Tehri Garhwal | Garhwal | Almora | Nainital | Nainital–Udhamsingh Nagar | Haridwar | Ref. |
| 2004 | 14th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 3 | BJP | BJP | BJP | INC | did not exist | SP | |
| 2004 | 14th Lok Sabha | | INC | 1 | BJP | BJP | BJP | INC | did not exist | SP | |
| 2004 | 14th Lok Sabha | | SP | 1 | BJP | BJP | BJP | INC | did not exist | SP | |
| 2009 | 15th Lok Sabha | | INC | 5 | INC | INC | INC | Constituency abolished | INC | INC | |
| 2014 | 16th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 5 | BJP | BJP | BJP | Constituency abolished | BJP | BJP | |
| 2019 | 17th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 5 | BJP | BJP | BJP | Constituency abolished | BJP | BJP | |
| 2024 | 18th Lok Sabha | | BJP | 5 | BJP | BJP | BJP | Constituency abolished | BJP | BJP | |

## Vidhan Sabha elections

Keys:  BJP (189)  INC (119)  BSP (20)  UKD/UKD(P) (8)  NCP (1)  Independent (13)
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Party-wise details | Chief Minister | Party |
| Election | Vidhan Sabha | Party | Party | Seats | Chief Minister | Party |
| 2002 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | INC | 36 | Narayan Datt Tiwari | INC |
| 2002 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | BJP | 19 | Narayan Datt Tiwari | INC |
| 2002 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | BSP | 7 | Narayan Datt Tiwari | INC |
| 2002 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | UKD | 4 | Narayan Datt Tiwari | INC |
| 2002 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | NCP | 1 | Narayan Datt Tiwari | INC |
| 2002 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | | IND | 3 | Narayan Datt Tiwari | INC |
| 2002 | 1st Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 70 | Narayan Datt Tiwari | INC |
| 2007 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | BJP | 35 | Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (2007–09) | BJP |
| 2007 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | INC | 21 | Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (2007–09) | BJP |
| 2007 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | BSP | 8 | Ramesh Pokhriyal (2009–11) | BJP |
| 2007 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | UKD | 3 | Ramesh Pokhriyal (2009–11) | BJP |
| 2007 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | | IND | 3 | Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (2011–12) | BJP |
| 2007 | 2nd Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 70 | Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri (2011–12) | BJP |
| 2012 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | INC | 32 | Vijay Bahuguna (2012–14) | INC |
| 2012 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | BJP | 31 | Vijay Bahuguna (2012–14) | INC |
| 2012 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | BSP | 3 | Vijay Bahuguna (2012–14) | INC |
| 2012 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | UKD(P) | 1 | Harish Rawat (2014–17) | INC |
| 2012 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | | IND | 3 | Harish Rawat (2014–17) | INC |
| 2012 | 3rd Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 70 | Harish Rawat (2014–17) | INC |
| 2017 | 4th Vidhan Sabha | | BJP | 57 | Trivendra Singh Rawat (2017–21) | BJP |
| 2017 | 4th Vidhan Sabha | | INC | 11 | Trivendra Singh Rawat (2017–21) | BJP |
| 2017 | 4th Vidhan Sabha | | IND | 2 | Pushkar Singh Dhami (2021-2022) | BJP |
| 2017 | 4th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 70 | Pushkar Singh Dhami (2021-2022) | BJP |
| 2022 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | | BJP | 47 | Pushkar Singh Dhami (2022–incumbent) | BJP |
| 2022 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | | INC | 19 | Pushkar Singh Dhami (2022–incumbent) | BJP |
| 2022 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | | BSP | 2 | Pushkar Singh Dhami (2022–incumbent) | BJP |
| 2022 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | | IND | 2 | Pushkar Singh Dhami (2022–incumbent) | BJP |
| 2022 | 5th Vidhan Sabha | Total | Total | 70 | Pushkar Singh Dhami (2022–incumbent) | BJP |

### 1st Assembly Election, 2002

2002 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly elections were the first Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) elections held in the state. The Interim Uttarakhand Assembly was led by Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari prior to the election, but no chief ministerial candidate was named before the elections. The Indian National Congress emerged as the largest party with 36 seats in the 70-seat legislature whereas the Bharatiya Janata Party secured the second place with 19 seats. Veteran Congress leader N. D. Tiwari was chosen as the new Chief Minister despite him not being a member of the legislative assembly. He later won the by-election held to the Ramnagar constituency.

### 2nd Assembly Election, 2007

2007 Uttarakhand state assembly elections were the second Vidhan Sabha elections held in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single largest party with 35 seats in the 70-seat legislature. One seat short of forming a majority, the BJP had to rely on the support of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and three independents to form the government. Former Union Minister B. C. Khanduri became the new Chief Minister despite him not being a member of the legislative assembly. He later won the by-election held to the Dhumakot constituency. The Indian National Congress was the official opposition, holding 21 seats. Ramesh Pokhriyal briefly held the post of chief minister after B.C. Khanduri resigned due to the BJP's dismal performance in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from the state. However, he was replaced by B.C. Khanduri after two years due to corruption allegations revealed against him.

### 3rd Assembly Election, 2012

2012 Uttarakhand state assembly elections were the third Vidhan Sabha elections held in the state. Uttarakhand had turned out incumbent governments in the first two elections held in the state since its formation. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party fought the election under the leadership of its Chief Minister B. C. Khanduri. The main opposition Indian National Congress was led in the assembly by Harak Singh Rawat, but no chief ministerial candidate was named before the elections. The interim tenure of former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, which was marked by large-scale corruption accusations, was likely to be the main election issue.
The elections took place on 30 January, with the results being announced on 6 March. In a closely contested election, the Indian National Congress emerged as the single largest party with 32 seats followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party with 31 seats. Notably the incumbent Chief minister B. C. Khanduri lost from his seat. Vijay Bahuguna was appointed as Chief minister despite him not being a member of the legislative assembly. He later won the by-election held to the Sitarganj constituency.
Later, Harish Rawat took over as the chief minister in 2014. He was elected from a bypoll in Dharchula Assembly constituency. In 2016, a brief period of President's rule was imposed in the state after 9 Congress mla's including former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna and former minister Harak Singh Rawat, switched over to the BJP. Ultimately, Harish Rawat managed to hold on to his government.

### 4th Assembly Election, 2017

2017 Uttarakhand state assembly elections were the fourth Vidhan Sabha elections held in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party riding on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, secured a record landslide victory, winning 57 of the total 70 seats. The ruling Indian National Congress was reduced to a record low of 11 seats, with the incumbent Chief Minister Harish Rawat himself losing from both the seats that he had contested from. Although the BJP had not projected anyone as its chief ministerial candidate, Trivendra Singh Rawat was chosen as the new Chief Minister after the elections. In 2021, Tirath Singh Rawat briefly became the Chief Minister, followed by Pushkar Singh Dhami.

### 5th Assembly Election, 2022

2022 Uttarakhand state assembly elections were the fifth Vidhan Sabha elections held in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party, despite its tally of seats shrinking significantly, secured a landslide victory, winning 47 of the total 70 seats. It was the first time in the history of Uttarakhand when the ruling party came back to power in the state winning back-to-back assembly elections, although the incumbent Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lost his seat. The main opposition Indian National Congress bagged 19 seats, with their party leader Harish Rawat also losing from his seat once again. Dhami was later elected from a bypoll in Champawat and was re-elected as the chief minister.

## Local Body elections

Local body elections are held every 5 years, each for the urban bodies and the rural bodies. Independent candidates have been dominant in these elections while the BJP performs well in the urban local bodies. Congress is also a major party in these elections. The latest local body election was held in January 2025.