Himachal Pradesh: CM's wife Kamlesh Thakur wins Dehra Assembly bypoll; defeats BJP's Hoshiyar Singh

PTC Web Desk: Kamlesh Thakur, the wife of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has won the Dehra Assembly bypoll by a significant margin of 9,399 votes. Hoshiyar Singh, a two-time Independent MLA who was running on a BJP ticket after resigning from the Assembly, was defeated. Kamlesh Thakur received 32,737 votes, while Hoshiyar Singh garnered 23,338 votes.

Although Hoshiyar Singh led by about 800 votes until the fourth round of counting, his lead dwindled to 37 votes by the fifth round. In the subsequent rounds, Kamlesh Thakur steadily increased her lead, ultimately winning by 9,399 votes.

Hoshiyar Singh's lead from his core base in the Haripur Guler area of the Dehra constituency was notably reduced compared to the 2022 Assembly elections, where he had secured a lead of over 4,000 votes. In the recent bypolls, his lead from this area dropped to around 800 votes. At the same time, Kamlesh Thakur gained significant support in areas around Dehra town and Dhaliara, traditionally strong BJP bases.

Notably, Dehra is one of the most underdeveloped areas in Kangra district. Himachal CM Sukhvider Singh Sukhu had conducted an intensive month-long campaign in Dehra, promising numerous development projects, including new offices for SP and SE-PWD, and assistance for Pong Dam oustees who have been landless since the 1960s.

Hoshiyar Singh attributed his defeat to the alleged misuse of government machinery, claiming that the government threatened government employees, private traders, and shopkeepers.