BJP is set to dislodge Congress in Himachal Pradesh

Opposition BJP is set to dislodge Congress from power in Himachal Pradesh having established early leads in over half of the 68 Assembly constituencies as counting of votes began.

Out of the 68 assembly seats, the BJP is leading in 44 seats, with the Congress ahead in only 22 seats. BJP workers have already brought out the flowers and laddoos in Shimla and Hamirpur. The final tally is expected in about an hour.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh defeated his traditional BJP rival Khusiram Balnatah by a margin of 14,137 votes from Rohru seat in Shimla district.

While Virbhadra polled 30,079 votes, Balnatah bagged 15,942 votes. This was fifth straight defeat of Balnatah in the hands of Singh from the same seat, which formed part of his princely Bushehr state.

BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal was also ahead over his Congress rival BC Lagwal in Bamson seat in Hamirpur district. Himachal also witnessed a high voter turnout and women played a decisive role and it has also helped Dhumal win the LS seat.

Dhumal accepted congratulations from the media and said senior leader Shanta Kumar was also with him on the party's decision to project him as Chief Minister. BJP President Rajnath Singh also thanked the people of Himachal Pradesh.

Senior Congress leaders Vidya Stokes and Thakur Ram lal were trailing in Kumarsain and Kotkaehloor respectively.

Vote counting for Himachal assembly elections is underway and the new government is expected to be formed by December 31.

The state underwent polls in two phases of voting, first on November 14 and then on December 19 to elect 68 legislators, as instructed by the Election Commission of India.

More than four lakh people voted for the Himachal Assembly elections at 6232 polling stations in the state.

Although, the BJP and the Congress, the two main contenders for power are both claiming that they would emerge victorious, the contest seems to be heading for a close finish.

The poll results will decide the fate of 335 candidates, including Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh from Rohru constituency and BJP's chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal from the constituency of Bamsan. Both of them are leading contenders of the Himachal elections.

Courtesy:ndtv.com
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