India, Sept. 10 -- In a major political shift, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed candidates on Thursday secured control of the 25-member Shimla Zila Parishad, a long-held Congress stronghold, winning the top posts by a narrow margin.

Bhupendra Singh Sisodia and Bharat Singh Kalanta were elected chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively-marking the first time BJP-backed members have taken the helm of the district body.

Sisodia secured 13 votes to win the chairperson post by a single vote, while Kalanta polled 14 votes to win the vice-chairperson contest.

The elections followed a Himachal Pradesh high court order. BJP members had petitioned the court over prolonged delays following the declaration of local body election results on...