Solan, July 2 -- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wrested control of the Solan Municipal Corporation on Thursday after its mayoral candidate Sushma Sharma and Independent councillor Gaurav Rajput, who is widely regarded as being aligned with the BJP, were elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively, dealing a significant political setback to the ruling Congress government in Himachal Pradesh.

The elections for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Solan Municipal Corporation were conducted by the Deputy Commissioner, Solan, exercising powers under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 and the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Election Rules, 2012, in accordance with Rules 81-A, 81-B and 81-C.

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