Bittersweet win for BJP in Himachal, as top leaders fail

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the new government in Himachal Pradesh after comprehensively defeating it’s longtime rival in the state, Congress, but political analysts believe that the victory is bittersweet.

BJP’s Himachal Pradesh Chief Ministerial face Prem Kumar Dhumal lost from his Sujanpur seat , while Virbhadra Singh went on to win from Arki constituency.

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The state has alternately elected Congress and BJP governments since 1985. In 2012, the Congress won 36 seats and the BJP 26. Independents won six seats.

A strong anti-incumbency wave has swept away the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government from Himachal, as its rule was marred by corruption allegations against the chief minister.

In Himachal Pradesh, all the 68 Assembly seats went to the polls on 9 November to decide the fate of 337 candidates including Chief Ministerial nominees Virbhadra Singh (Congress) and Prem Kumar Dhumal (Bharatiya Janata Party).

Fate of top leaders in Himachal poll verdict:

State BJP chief Satpal Satti was defeated in Una by Satpal Singh Razda of Congress.

Dhumal’s confidants Ravinder Ravi, Gulab Singh and Randhir Sharma, all outgoing legislators, also lost from their respective constituencies.

Congress Cabinet Minister Prakash Chaudhary also faced defeat. He lost in Balh in Mandi district to BJP’s Inder Singh Gandhi.

State Urban Development Minister and Congress leader Sudhir Sharma lost from Dharamshala constituency.

State Forest minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri lost from Bharmour constituency to BJP’s candidate Jia Lal.

BJP’s Ravindra Dhiman defeated Congress’ outgoing legislator Yadvinder Goma in Jaisinghpur and Kishori Lal of the BJP overcame Bansi Lal of the Congress from Anni.

BJP’s Suresh Bhardwaj retained his Shimla seat, defeating Congress rebel Harish Janatha. While CPI-M came thrird, Harbhajan Bhajji of the Congress stood fourth.

Anil Sharma, who resigned from the government and the ruling Congress and joined the BJP just before the polls along with his father and former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram, retained his Mandi seat.

Independent Hoshiar Singh defeated heavyweights Ravinder Ravi (BJP) and Viplove Thakur (Congress) in Dehra constituency.

Outgoing legislator Anirudh Singh of the Congress retained his Kasumpti seat by defeating BJP’s Vijay Jyoti Sain.

CPI-M’s Rakesh Singha defeated his near rival Rakesh Verma of the BJP from Theog.

A total of 337 candidates contested the election. A total of 37,83,580 people voted in the hill state — a record 75.28 per cent polling.