Himachal Pradesh: INC and BJP, nobody else gets a look-in
14 Assembly elections · 1951–2022 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.
Himachal Pradesh has voted in 14 Assembly elections between 1951 and 2022. Indian National Congress has been the largest party in 10 of them — a long grip on the state.
Power has changed hands 8 times. The steadiest run was Indian National Congress's — the top party from 1951 to 1972 across 3 elections.
In 2007, Bharatiya Janata Party broke through — 41 of 68 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 43 to 23.
In 2012, Indian National Congress broke through — 36 of 68 seats — ending Bharatiya Janata Party's hold, which fell from 41 to 26.
In 2017, Bharatiya Janata Party broke through — 44 of 68 seats — ending Indian National Congress's hold, which fell from 36 to 21.
In 2022, Indian National Congress broke through — 40 of 68 seats — ending Bharatiya Janata Party's hold, which fell from 44 to 25.
The sharpest single swing was 1977: Janata Party went from 0 to 53 seats, a gain of 53.
Janata Party's steepest fall came in 1982, from 53 seats to 2.
The closest verdict was 1998: Indian National Congress finished just 0 seats ahead of Bharatiya Janata Party.
Most recently, in 2022, Indian National Congress holds 40 of 68 seats on 43.9% of the vote — a clear majority (35).
Pivotal elections
who held the house, seat by seatEvery time power changed hands
- 1977JNP took the house with 53 of 68, ending INC’s run (53 → 9).
- 1982INC took the house with 31 of 68, ending JNP’s run (53 → 2).
- 1990BJP took the house with 45 of 67, ending INC’s run (58 → 9).
- 1993INC took the house with 52 of 68, ending BJP’s run (45 → 8).
- 2007BJP took the house with 41 of 68, ending INC’s run (43 → 23).
- 2012INC took the house with 36 of 68, ending BJP’s run (41 → 26).
- 2017BJP took the house with 44 of 68, ending INC’s run (36 → 21).
- 2022INC took the house with 40 of 68, ending BJP’s run (44 → 25).
Party identity
renames, splits and mergers along the way- Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.
- Bharatiya Janata Party broke away from Janata Party in 1980.
- Janata Party saw Bharatiya Janata Party break away in 1980 (formed by former Jana Sangh bloc after the Janata Party split); saw JNPSC break away in 1979; absorbed Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; absorbed Swatantra Party in 1977; absorbed BLD in 1977; took in Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; took in Swatantra Party in 1974; took in BLD in 1977; took in NCO in 1977.