Uttarakhand Panchayat Polls: BJP bigwigs face defeat; Congress celebrates strong gains
The BJP suffered major setbacks in Uttarakhand's Panchayat elections as several senior leaders' kin lost key seats. On the other hand, Congress-backed candidates have yielded positive results in many areas. Congress is elated at this performance and speculates about shifting voter sentiment ahead of the 2027 assembly polls.
Dehradun: The 2025 Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand have brought bad news for the ruling BJP. Many important leaders from the party saw their family members lose in the polls. On the other hand, Congress-backed candidates did well, and their supporters are celebrating across the state.
The elections were held in villages and small towns across Uttarakhand. BJP-supported candidates lost in many districts like Pauri, Almora, Nainital, and Chamoli. Counting of votes Zila Panchayat president is still underway and expected to be completed by evening today. In total 358 Zila Panchayat seats, BJP won 190, Congress 98 and other won 52 seats. Wife of sitting BJP MLA loses in Lansdowne
One of the biggest defeats was in Lansdowne. Neetu Devi, wife of BJP MLA Dilip Rawat, lost her seat by 411 votes. Rawat had hoped she would become the district panchayat president, but now that plan has failed. In Almora’s Syalde block, Karan Jina, son of BJP MLA Mahesh Jina, lost by just 50 votes to Congress-backed Karan Negi. This close defeat has raised questions about whether the BJP is losing support in villages.
In Nainital, Sarita Arya’s son lost to Congress leader Yashpal Arya by 1,200 votes. Sarita Arya had joined BJP from Congress in 2022. Her son’s defeat shows that people in her area may not be happy with the switch.
In Chamoli, Rajni Bhandari, wife of former BJP minister Rajendra Bhandari, came fourth in her ward. She was the district panchayat president before, so this result is a big setback.
In Almora’s Bhaisiyachana block, BJP leader Santosh Kumar Ram and his wife Pooja Devi both lost. Santosh lost by 267 votes, and Pooja came third in her seat. In Nainital’s Ramdi Aan Singh seat, BJP’s Bela Tolia, who was the district panchayat president, lost by over 2,000 votes to independent candidate Chhabi Bora Kandpal. This seat was once very important for BJP, but now it shows the party’s weakening grip.
Congress targeted the BJP over the district panchayat election results
Uttarakhand Congress vice-president and spokesperson Dhirendra Pratap Yadav targeted the BJP over the district panchayat election results, stating that the outcome clearly marks the beginning of the countdown for the BJP's end in Uttarakhand. He said the days of the Dhami government are limited and these results forecast a crushing defeat for the BJP in the 2027 state elections.
Panchayat elections as a clear sign of BJP’s growing strength in rural Uttarakhand
The BJP has described the results of the Panchayat elections as a clear sign of its growing strength in rural Uttarakhand, calling it a step toward a "triple-engine government.” State BJP leaders said the victory of party-backed candidates has generated enthusiasm among the public and should serve as a reality check for the Congress.
Speaking to the media at the party headquarters, State Media In-charge Manveer Chauhan said, "There is widespread enthusiasm among the public due to the success of our supported candidates—whether for District Panchayat Member, Area Panchayat, Gram Pradhan, or Ward Member. This is a strong endorsement of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s development vision.”
Villagers feel their local problems are not being solved
Experts say these results show that people in villages are seemingly unhappy with the BJP. Many feel their local problems are not being solved. Congress, which had lost ground earlier, seems to be gaining support again. As the state looks ahead to the 2027 assembly elections, both BJP and Congress will have to work harder to win the trust of voters—especially in villages.
These results have changed the political mood in Uttarakhand
The Panchayat elections were held for 7,499 Gram Pradhan, 2,974 Kshetra Panchayat, and 358 Zila Panchayat seats. In many areas, Congress candidates won more seats than BJP-supported ones. These results have changed the political mood in Uttarakhand. They show that big names alone cannot win elections. Parties need to connect with people at the ground level.