Yashpal Arya is a 7-time MLA from Uttar Pradesh (twice) and Uttarakhand combined. He is a former Minister of Transportation, Social Welfare, Minority and Students' Welfare in the Government of Uttarakhand under Bharatiya Janata Party's rule. Currently, he is an Indian National Congress leader and member of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly. He is a former Speaker of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly under Indian National Congress' rule. He was elected from Mukteshwar constituency in the 2007 Uttarakhand state assembly elections.

The 2012 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election were the 3rd Vidhan Sabha election of the state of Uttarakhand in India. Elections were held on 30 January 2012 when Indian National Congress emerged as the largest party with 32 seats in the 70-seat legislature and formed the government with the help of Progressive Democratic Front alliance. The Bharatiya Janata Party with 31 seats served as the official opposition.