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Dharamshala, July 2
BJP-backed candidates secured control of the Dharamshala Panchayat Samiti after winning the elections for the posts of Chairman and Vice Chairperson held on Thursday. Alok Kumar from Narwana Khas ward was elected Chairman, while Saroj Kumari from Mandal ward was elected Vice Chairperson. The election process was conducted peacefully in the presence of Dharamshala SDM Mohit Ratna.
The SDM said notices were issued to all 18 elected members before the proceedings began. All members participated in the election, which included attendance, nomination, withdrawal and voting. Two candidates contested each post. Alok Kumar secured 12 of the 18 valid votes to defeat Surinder Singh, also known as Sonu, who received six votes. In the Vice Chairperson election, Saroj Kumari won with 10 votes, while Jay Lalita secured seven votes after one ballot was declared invalid.
Expressing gratitude after his victory, Alok Kumar credited BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma, Panchayat Samiti members and party workers for their support. He said the members had remained united and pledged to work collectively to accelerate development across the block. He added that addressing basic issues, such as the drinking water supply, would be among his top priorities.
Newly elected Vice Chairperson Saroj Kumari thanked the members for their support and said she would discharge her responsibilities with honesty and ensure that development-related works receive priority. Congratulating the newly elected office bearers, Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma said the government had delayed announcing the election schedule, but the polls were ultimately conducted peacefully. He said BJP-supported members remained united, enabling the party to form the Panchayat Samiti. Sharma expressed confidence that the committee would work together to speed up development in the Dharamshala block.
Commenting on the political contest, Sharma said such competition between parties was natural until the results were declared and claimed the BJP had been confident of securing a majority. He also said the party would move the High Court over the pending Zila Parishad chairperson and vice-chairperson elections, seeking the early conduct of Panchayati Raj institution elections and accountability for the delay.
