HP: Dhumal, Kaul Singh, Maheshwar, Satti among prominent losers

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18

BJP's chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal, Congress cabinet ministers Kaul Singh Thakur, Prakash Chaudhary, Thakur Singh Bharmouri and Sudhir Sharma, state BJP chief Satpal Satti, BJP leaders Maheshwar Singh, Ravinder Ravi and Viplov Thakur of Congress were among the stalwarts who are among the prominent losers in Himachal.

Dhumal lost to his Congress rival Rajinder Singh Rana by 1,919 votes in Sujanpur.

In Balh, BJP's Inder Singh Gandhi defeated Congress cabinet Minister Prakash Chaudhary.

Another shock defeat for the BJP came in Kullu where  Sunder Singh Thakur of Congress defeated senior BJP leader Maheshwar Singh. Thakur polled 30,850 votes while Singh got 29,292. 

Senior-most minister Kaul Singh lost from Drang, while his daughter Champa Thakur, too, suffered defeat at the hands of BJP's Anil Sharma from Mandi.

State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti lost from Una to Satpal Singh Raizada. 

In Dharmsala, Kishan Kapoor of the BJP defeated Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma by 2,820 votes.

Jia Lal of the BJP defeated Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri by 6,873 votes in Bharmour.

In Dehra, BJP and Congress veterans Ravinder Ravi and Viplove Thakur, respectively, faced humiliating defeat at the hands of Independent Hoshiar Singh.

CPM's Rakesh Singha defeated his nearest rival Rakesh Verma of the BJP by 1,983 votes in Theog.

In Haroli, Congress’ Mukesh Agnihotri defeated Ram Kumar of the BJP by 7,377 votes.

Narinder Bragta of the BJP defeated Rohit Thakur of the Congress by 1,061 votes in Jubbal and Kotkhai.

Congress' sitting MLA and minister for Social justice and empowerment DR Shandil won Solan seat by defeating his son-in-law and BJP's first-timer Rajesh Kashyap by 971 votes

In Kasauli, BJP MLA Rajiv Saizal retained his seat. He defeated Congress candidate Vinod Sultanpuri by 356 votes.

BJP's Ravindra Dhiman defeated Congress' sitting legislator Yadvinder Goma in Jaisinghpur.

Kishori Lal of the BJP defeated Bansi Lal of the Congress in Anni.

BJP's sitting legislator Suresh Bhardwaj retained his Shimla Urban seat.

In Doon, BJP's Parminder Singh won by 4,319 votes defeating sitting Congress MLA Ramkumar.

Congress' sitting legislator Anirudh Singh retained his seat Kasumpti by defeating BJP's Vijay Jyoti Sain. Both belong to the royal families.

In Lahaul and Spiti, BJP candidate Ram Lal Markandey defeated Ravi Thakur of Congress by 1,500 votes.

Rajesh Thakur of BJP defeated Rakesh Kalia of Congress by 9,107 votes in Gagret.

BJP candidate Govind Singh Thakur defeated Congress’ Hari Chand Sharma in Manali. Thakur got 26,876 votes and Sharma bagged 23,835.  

Vinay Kumar of the Congress retained Sri Renuka ji seat by defeating BJP's Balbir Singh by 5,160 votes.

Harshwardhan Chauhan of the Congress won the Shillai seat by 4,125 votes. He defeated BJP's sitting MLA Baldev Tomar.