After the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in December 2017, who became the new Chief Minister of the state?

Introduction / Context:
Chief Ministers are the heads of government in Indian states, and changes in this office are important current affairs topics. The 2017 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections resulted in a change of leadership. This question asks who became the new Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh after those elections.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The context is the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections held in 2017.
- The question refers to the new Chief Minister after these elections.
- The options include Jairam Thakur and other leaders associated with the state.

Concept / Approach:
In the 2017 Himachal Pradesh elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won a majority. Although Prem Kumar Dhumal was initially projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate, he lost his own seat. Subsequently, Jairam Thakur, a senior BJP leader, was chosen as the Chief Minister and took oath in December 2017. Recognising this political development allows us to choose the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the 2017 Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh resulted in a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Step 2: Note that the party had to select a Chief Minister after its projected candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal, lost his seat. Step 3: Remember that Jairam Thakur was then selected as the leader of the legislature party and became the new Chief Minister. Step 4: Compare with other options such as Anil Sharma, Sudhir Sharma, and Karan Singh, who did not assume the Chief Minister's office in 2017. Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is Jairam Thakur.

Verification / Alternative check:
News coverage and official state government sources from late December 2017 confirm that Jairam Thakur took oath as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. This is also reflected in standard current affairs compilations for that year.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Anil Sharma: A political figure in the state but did not become Chief Minister in 2017.
Sudhir Sharma: Another leader from Himachal Pradesh, yet he was not chosen as Chief Minister after the elections.
Karan Singh: A senior politician but not the person who became Chief Minister in this context.
Prem Kumar Dhumal: Although earlier twice Chief Minister and projected again, he lost his seat in 2017 and was not sworn in as Chief Minister after the elections.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may mistakenly choose Prem Kumar Dhumal because of his earlier service as Chief Minister and because he was initially presented as the party's Chief Ministerial face. However, the key detail is that he did not win his seat, leading to Jairam Thakur being appointed instead. Careful attention to the actual outcome rather than pre election projections is important.

Final Answer:
After the 2017 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the new Chief Minister of the state became Jairam Thakur.