Congress emerged victorious in the high-stake battle of prestige for both the arch rivals BJP and Congress, by winning one of the oldest municipalities of the country, Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC).

The party staged a comeback after 10 years by wresting the civic body from the Opposition BJP, for whom it was yet another bolt after having lost the Assembly elections held November last year.

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The polling was held on party symbols for the 34 wards (seats), wherein Congress won 24 seats, followed by BJP 9 seats and CPI(M) won a single seat.

A total of 102 candidates were in fray from Congress, BJP, CPI (M), AAP and nine independents. 17 seats were reserved for women inclusive of three seats for Scheduled caste women. While both BJP and Congress had fielded candidates from all the wards, AAP was a new entrant this time. It, however, failed to open any account despite having fielded 21 candidates.

The CPI (M) had four candidates in the fray.

The election was largely bipolar (Congress and BJP) and Congress was confident of wresting the civic body from BJP this time.

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu who had represented Chotta Shimla ward twice as a councilor, witnessed victory of Congress candidate Surender Chauhan, a former councilor.

The 24 wards won by Congress are Kaithu, Annadale, Tutu, Majthai, Boileauganj, Kachighati, Tutikandi, Nabha, Ram Bazar, Lower Bazar, Jakhu, Banmore, Engine Ghar, Sanjauli Chowk, Lower Dhalli, Shanti Vihar, Bhatta Kuffar, Sangti, Malyana, Chotta Shimla, Vikas Nagar, Kangnadhar, Khalanni and Kanlog.

Bharari, Ruldu Bhatta, Phagli, Krishna Nagar, Uppar Dhalli, Panthaghati, Kasumpti, Patyog and New Shimla wards were won by BJP.

The CPI (M) won the Summer Hill ward.

The Shimla Municipal limits also constitute three Assembly segments Shimla (Urban), Shimla (Rural) and Kusampti, all the three seats had been won by Congress in the last state legislative elections held in November.

The polling for the civic body was held on 2 May, which witnessed around 59 per cent of voting. Of a total of 93,920 voters 55,098 cast their votes, among them 29,335 (58.95 per cent) were male voters while 25,763 (58.34 per cent) were female voters.

For the 34 wards about 50 per cent are reserved for women 6 for the Scheduled castes (including 3 women), while 14 were unreserved.

For the first time a record number of women were fielded by both BJP having fielded 24 women while Congress 18.

The BJP had made history in 2017 elections by winning  the civic elections for the first time in 32 years by winning 17 wards.  Congress won 12 wards, while independents won 4 wards and CPI(M) won a single ward.

Prior to the BJP, the CPI (M) had scripted history by winning the direct elections in 2012 civic elections for Mayor and Deputy Mayor post and gained its hold on the SMC.

Considered as a curtain raiser for Assembly elections, the SMC elections had been delayed for a year by BJP fearing defeat.

The previous BJP government had increased the wards of SMC from 34 to 41 after which the delimitation of wards was challenged in the high court.  The Congress party, after assuming power, withdrew the decision.