The results also saw the defeat of several prominent faces. Former BJP Mayor Onkar Chand Nehria and former Deputy Mayor Tajinder Kaur, both contesting as Independents after being denied party tickets, failed to make a mark. Former Congress Mayor Rajni and senior Congress leader Suresh Kumar were among the other high-profile casualties.
In Forsythganj (Ward No. 1), BJP’s Rekha Devi edged past Congress candidate Himanshi by 47 votes, securing 263 votes against 216.
The BJP retained its bastion of Bhasunag (Ward No. 2), where Shamsher Singh Nehria garnered 676 votes to defeat party rebel and former mayor Onkar Chand Nehria, who managed to get 422 votes. Congress nominee Ashok Pathania trailed with 231 votes.
In McLeodganj (Ward No. 3), BJP candidate Asha Devi emerged victorious with 368 votes, defeating Congress’ Sudarshana Devi, who polled 254 votes.
Outgoing Mayor Neenu Sharma provided a rare bright spot for the Congress by retaining Kashmir House (Ward No. 4). She secured 607 votes and defeated BJP candidate Neha Sangal, who garnered 249 votes, by a margin of 358 votes.
The Congress also held on to Khajanchi Mohalla (Ward No. 5), where Shailza secured 627 votes against BJP candidate Aruna Kumari’s 404.
One of the most emphatic victories for the BJP came from Kotwali Bazar (Ward No. 6), where it’s candidate Karishma Chettri amassed 866 votes, leaving Congress candidate Babita far behind at 258 votes.
BJP rebel and former Deputy Mayor Tajinder Kaur finished third with 217 votes.
In Secretariat (Ward No. 7), BJP’s Ashu scraped through with 356 votes, narrowly defeating Congress candidate Shivani Bhardwaj, who polled 325 votes. Khel Parisar (Ward No. 8) also went the BJP’s way, with Prerna securing 551 votes against Congress candidate Rani Devi’s 378.
The lone independent’s success came in Sakoh (Ward No. 9), where Naresh Kumar polled 631 votes to outpace Congress candidate Sushma Kumari (568) and BJP nominee Raj Kumar (403).
Congress candidate Sudesh Kumar carried Shyamnagar (Ward No. 10) with 673 votes, comfortably ahead of Independent Atul Bhardwaj, who secured 412 votes. The party also retained Ramnagar (Ward No. 11), where Anurag defeated BJP candidate Anish Kumar by polling 652 votes against 579.
In Badol (Ward No. 12), BJP’s Meena Kumari notched up emphatic victory, securing 992 votes against Congress candidate Swarna Devi’s 622.
The saffron party also breached the Congress stronghold of Dari (Ward No. 13), where Harsh Oberoi secured 636 votes to overcome Congress candidate Sandip, who managed to get 454 votes.
Congress candidate Anoj Bisht emerged victorious in Kand (Ward No. 14), polling 1,050 votes and defeating BJP’s Shekhar Anand, who secured 666 votes.
Another major gain for the BJP came in Khaniara (Ward No. 15), long considered a Congress bastion. Here, journalist-turned-politician Praveen Kumar garnered 985 votes to defeat former Congress Mayor Rajni, who secured 834 votes.