# Dharamshala Assembly constituency

Dharamshala Assembly constituency is one of the 68 constituencies in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh a northern state of India. Dharamshala is also part of Kangra Lok Sabha constituency.

## Members of Legislative Assembly

| Year | Member | Party |
| 1967 | R. K. Chand | Indian National Congress |
| 1972 | Chander Verker | Indian National Congress |
| 1977 | Brij Lal | Janata Party |
| 1982 | Brij Lal | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 1985 | Mool Raj Padhal | Indian National Congress |
| 1990 | Kishan Kapoor | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 1993 | Kishan Kapoor | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 1998 | Kishan Kapoor | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 2003 | Chandresh Kumari | Indian National Congress |
| 2007 | Kishan Kapoor | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 2012 | Sudhir Sharma | Indian National Congress |
| 2017 | Kishan Kapoor | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 2019 | Vishal Nehria | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| 2022 | Sudhir Sharma | Indian National Congress |
| ^2024 | Sudhir Sharma | Bharatiya Janata Party |
* ↑ By-election

## Election results
### Assembly By-election 2024

2024 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly by-election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Sudhir Sharma | 28,066 | 45.06 | 5.00 |
| | INC | Devinder Singh (Jaggi) | 22,540 | 36.19 | 9.34 |
| | Independent | Rakesh Chaudhary | 10,770 | 17.29 | New |
| | NOTA | Nota | 429 | 0.82 | 0.09 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 5,526 | 8.90 | 7.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 62,280 | 64.23% | 13.21 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 82,137 | | 3.43 |
| | BJP gain from INC | BJP gain from INC | Swing | | |

### Assembly Election 2022

2022 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Sudhir Sharma | 27,323 | 45.53% | 29.88 |
| | BJP | Rakesh Choudhary | 24,038 | 40.06% | 4.71 |
| | Independent | Vipan Nehria | 7,416 | 12.36% | New |
| | AAP | Kulwant Singh Rana | 527 | 0.88% | New |
| | NOTA | Nota | 438 | 0.73% | 0.09 |
| | Independent | Subhash Chand Shukla | 170 | 0.28% | New |
| | Independent | Dr. Abhay Kumar Ashok | 98 | 0.16% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 3,285 | 5.47% | 7.40 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,010 | 71.59% | 7.69 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 83,829 | | 2.06 |
| | INC gain from BJP | INC gain from BJP | Swing | 0.76 | |

### Assembly By-election 2019

2019 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly by-election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Vishal Nehria | 23,498 | 44.77% | 0.36 |
| | Independent | Rakesh Kumar | 16,740 | 31.89% | New |
| | INC | Vijay Inder Karan | 8,212 | 15.65% | 24.29 |
| | Independent | Puneesh Sharma | 2,345 | 4.47% | New |
| | Independent | Dr. Manohar Lal Dhiman | 887 | 1.69% | New |
| | Independent | Nisha Katoch | 435 | 0.83% | New |
| | NOTA | Nota | 429 | 0.82% | New |
| | Independent | Subhash Chand Shukla | 368 | 0.70% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 6,758 | 12.88% | 7.68 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,485 | 64.23% | 13.21 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 82,137 | | 9.72 |
| | BJP hold | BJP hold | Swing | 0.36 | |

### Assembly Election 2017

2017 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Kishan Kapoor | 26,050 | 45.13% | 11.11 |
| | INC | Sudhir Sharma | 23,053 | 39.94% | 4.56 |
| | Independent | Ravinder Rana | 2,127 | 3.68% | New |
| | Independent | Pankaj Kumar (Panku) | 1,726 | 2.99% | New |
| | Independent | Kamal Kumar | 1,655 | 2.87% | New |
| | NOTA | None of the Above | 525 | 0.91% | New |
| | BSP | Pawan Choudhary | 471 | 0.82% | 0.14 |
| | BMP | Ashwani Kajal | 307 | 0.53% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 2,997 | 5.19% | 5.28 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,725 | 77.11% | 3.21 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 74,863 | | 15.89 |
| | BJP gain from INC | BJP gain from INC | Swing | 0.63 | |

### Assembly Election 2012

2012 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Sudhir Sharma | 21,241 | 44.49% | 16.87 |
| | BJP | Kishan Kapoor | 16,241 | 34.02% | 10.11 |
| | Independent | Kamla Patiyal | 3,580 | 7.50% | New |
| | Independent | Amar Dass (Nikku Purohit) | 2,269 | 4.75% | New |
| | Independent | Ashwani Kajal Chaudhary | 1,452 | 3.04% | New |
| | Independent | Subhash Chand Shukla | 649 | 1.36% | New |
| | BSP | Sudershan Angaria | 458 | 0.96% | 23.60 |
| | CPI(M) | Jagdish Chand | 402 | 0.84% | 1.53 |
| | AITC | Chinta Har | 334 | 0.70% | New |
| | NCP | Gulshan Kumar | 271 | 0.57% | New |
| | LJP | Suraksha Devi | 263 | 0.55% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 5,000 | 10.47% | 6.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,739 | 73.90% | 2.06 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,598 | | 0.59 |
| | INC gain from BJP | INC gain from BJP | Swing | 0.36 | |

### Assembly Election 2007

2007 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Kishan Kapoor | 20,362 | 44.13% | 4.10 |
| | INC | Chandresh Kumari Katoch | 12,746 | 27.63% | 24.41 |
| | BSP | Major Vijay Singh Mankotia | 11,331 | 24.56% | New |
| | CPI(M) | Kapoor Singh Sapahya | 1,096 | 2.38% | New |
| | Adarsh Political Party | Bimal | 571 | 1.24% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 7,616 | 16.51% | 4.50 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 46,138 | 71.84% | 3.65 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 64,219 | | 13.74 |
| | BJP gain from INC | BJP gain from INC | Swing | 7.91 | |

### Assembly Election 2003

2003 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Chandresh Kumari Katoch | 22,181 | 52.04% | 13.04 |
| | BJP | Kishan Kapoor | 17,063 | 40.03% | 8.91 |
| | HVC | Ram Swaroop | 2,473 | 5.80% | 3.86 |
| | Independent | Uttam Kapoor | 423 | 0.99% | New |
| | SP | Jaswant Singh | 246 | 0.58% | New |
| | LJP | Sudesh Kumar | 237 | 0.56% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 5,118 | 12.01% | 2.07 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 42,623 | 75.53% | 6.38 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 56,459 | | 15.58 |
| | INC gain from BJP | INC gain from BJP | Swing | 3.10 | |

### Assembly Election 1998

1998 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Kishan Kapoor | 16,522 | 48.94% | 11.46 |
| | INC | Ram Swaroop | 13,167 | 39.00% | 2.83 |
| | CPI(M) | Kapoor Singh Sapahya | 1,550 | 4.59% | New |
| | BSP | Amin Chand Chaudhary | 846 | 2.51% | 2.03 |
| | HVC | Rakesh Narayan | 657 | 1.95% | New |
| | Independent | Nanak Barsain (Jubilee) | 566 | 1.68% | New |
| | JD | Bidhi Chand Choudhary | 316 | 0.94% | 1.29 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 3,355 | 9.94% | 8.63 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,760 | 69.99% | 4.05 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 48,849 | | 12.10 |
| | BJP hold | BJP hold | Swing | 11.46 | |

### Assembly Election 1993

1993 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Kishan Kapoor | 11,950 | 37.48% | 31.97 |
| | INC | Chandresh Kumari Katoch | 11,533 | 36.18% | 17.56 |
| | Independent | Mool Raj Padha | 4,457 | 13.98% | New |
| | Independent | Arun Kumar | 1,569 | 4.92% | New |
| | BSP | Amin Chand | 1,447 | 4.54% | 2.46 |
| | JD | Ranjit Singh | 711 | 2.23% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 417 | 1.31% | 49.53 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 31,881 | 73.73% | 8.65 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 43,576 | | 4.60 |
| | BJP hold | BJP hold | Swing | 31.97 | |

### Assembly Election 1990

1990 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Kishan Kapoor | 18,666 | 69.45% | 25.48 |
| | INC | Mool Raj Padha | 5,003 | 18.62% | 30.33 |
| | Independent | Kamlesh Kumar | 1,264 | 4.70% | New |
| | CPI(M) | Kapoor Singh Saphaya | 971 | 3.61% | New |
| | BSP | Bashir | 558 | 2.08% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 13,663 | 50.84% | 45.87 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 26,876 | 64.99% | 7.28 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 41,660 | | 37.28 |
| | BJP gain from INC | BJP gain from INC | Swing | 20.51 | |

### Assembly Election 1985

1985 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Mool Raj Padha | 10,663 | 48.94% | 15.02 |
| | BJP | Kishan Kapoor | 9,580 | 43.97% | 2.32 |
| | Independent | Dil Vikram Singh | 914 | 4.20% | New |
| | CPI | Rakesh Narayan | 567 | 2.60% | 1.45 |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 1,083 | 4.97% | 7.40 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,787 | 72.74% | 2.99 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 30,347 | | 10.45 |
| | INC gain from BJP | INC gain from BJP | Swing | 2.65 | |

### Assembly Election 1982

1982 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | BJP | Brij Lal | 9,513 | 46.29% | New |
| | INC | Mool Raj Sharma | 6,971 | 33.92% | 4.40 |
| | Independent | Chander Verkar | 2,511 | 12.22% | New |
| | CPI | Sita Ram | 832 | 4.05% | New |
| | JP | Sital Ram | 250 | 1.22% | 56.97 |
| | LKD | Shiv Shankar | 151 | 0.73% | New |
| | Independent | Swami Shanta Nand | 105 | 0.51% | New |
| | Independent | Onkar Singh Kaistha | 102 | 0.50% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 2,542 | 12.37% | 7.49 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,549 | 76.33% | 15.64 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 27,477 | | 10.26 |
| | BJP gain from JP | BJP gain from JP | Swing | 11.89 | |

### Assembly Election 1977

1977 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | JP | Brij Lal | 8,576 | 58.18% | New |
| | INC | Chander Verkar | 5,649 | 38.32% | 8.67 |
| | Independent | Sital Ram | 346 | 2.35% | New |
| | Independent | Madan Lal | 117 | 0.79% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 2,927 | 19.86% | 18.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,740 | 59.94% | 10.33 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,920 | | 18.97 |
| | JP gain from INC | JP gain from INC | Swing | 28.53 | |

### Assembly Election 1972

1972 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | Chander Verkar | 3,032 | 29.65% | 7.69 |
| | Independent | Brij Lal | 2,842 | 27.79% | New |
| | Independent | Bhagat Ram | 1,539 | 15.05% | New |
| | Independent | Sital Ram | 949 | 9.28% | New |
| | ABJS | Onkar Singh | 856 | 8.37% | 27.35 |
| | Independent | Roshan Lal | 502 | 4.91% | New |
| | Independent | Bipan Chand | 358 | 3.50% | New |
| | Independent | Karm Chand | 147 | 1.44% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 190 | 1.86% | 0.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,225 | 49.97% | 2.03 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 20,946 | | 15.89 |
| | INC hold | INC hold | Swing | 7.69 | |

### Assembly Election 1967

1967 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election: Dharamshala :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | INC | R. K. Chand | 4,351 | 37.34% | New |
| | ABJS | N. Singh | 4,162 | 35.72% | New |
| | Independent | P. Nabh | 1,129 | 9.69% | New |
| | Independent | J. Karan | 1,077 | 9.24% | New |
| | Independent | B. Dass | 639 | 5.48% | New |
| | Independent | K. Singh | 293 | 2.51% | New |
| Margin of victory | Margin of victory | Margin of victory | 189 | 1.62% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 11,651 | 50.67% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,904 | | |
| | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) | INC win (new seat) |