Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Phase 7 key constituencies and candidates | All you need to know

Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024:The voting for the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections is taking place on Friday (June 1) across 57 constituencies. All four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh - Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Hamirpur, are going to polls in the final phase.

Various prominent faces, including Union minister Anurag Thakur, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma and actor Kangana Ranaut are contesting from Himachal's four parliamentary seats.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in all four seats and is eyeing yet another clean sweep. The Congress, which won the 2022 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections by securing 40 of 69 seats, is confident of reversing its electoral fortunes in the June 1 election.

Himachal Pradesh Elections 2024: Phase 7 constituencies and candidates

Currently represented by Union minister Anurag Thakur, Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency has been a BJP stronghold. The Congress, which has fielded Satpal Raizada for the June 1 election, last tasted success from the seat in 1996. Anurag Thakur, who was elected for the first time in 2008 bypoll following his father Prem Kumar Dhumal's resignation.The sports minister is now seeking the fifth consecutive win from Hamirpur.

Kangra Lok Sabha constituency comprises 17 assembly segments including Dalhousie, Chamba, Dharamshala and Palampur among others. The seat is currently represented by BJP's Kishan Kapoor who defeated Congress leader Pawan Kajal in 2019 by a margin of over 4.77 lakh votes. While the grand old party was the dominant party in the initial years, it failed to secure the Kangra seat in the last three elections.

Currently represented by Suresh Kumar Kashyap, president of the BJP Himachal Pradesh unit, Shimla Lok Sabha constituency has been reserved to candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC). The BJP first secured Shimla parliamentary seat, which was a Congress stronghold, in 2009. Since then, it has maintained its winning streak.

Actress Kangana Ranaut will be fighting the polls against Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh, the son of late former CM Virbhadra Singh. Mandi is a bastion for Virbhadra's family, and the seat is currently held by his widow, Pratibha Devi Singh.

Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024: How many phases were there in Himachal Pradesh?

Himachal Pradesh voted in only one phase. The result for the state will be announced on June 4. Just like in previous elections, the state without any alteration in the pattern is all set to have its elections scheduled in one phase in 2024 also.

Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024: How many Lok Sabha constituencies does Himachal Pradesh have?

Himachal Pradesh has four Lok Sabha constituencies, namely- Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur and Shimla. In both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP ended up winning all four seats, with Anurag Thakur being their biggest face.

Complete list of candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections 2024

BJP, following their trend in the state is all set to contest on all the four seats from NDA’s side in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, while they will be opposed by I.N.D.I.A alliance backed INC this time around.

(With inputs from agencies)