The BJP has won 44 seats in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly, while the Congress has won 20.
As the BJP celebrates its success in the Himalayan state, one man looked crestfallen — the party's chief ministerial candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal. The former CM was among those defeated in the state that soundly voted for the saffron party.
Dhumal, 73, was expected to run the state if the BJP came to power. The BJP won, but the people voted against him.
The former chief minister was defeated from Sujanpur by his Congress rival and former confidant Rajinder Rana.
Also Read: Defeat in Victory: BJP Wins Himachal but CM Candidate Dhumal Loses
With the BJP recording a thumping victory in Himachal Pradesh, all eyes are on the next rung of leadership in the state.
Speaking about this, JP Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Rajya Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh, said that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Narendra Tomar will be going to the state to hold discussions about the leadership there.
Incumbent Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh won from the Arki constituency, defeating BJP’s Rattan Singh Pal by a margin of 6,051 votes. His son Vikramaditya Singh won Shimla Rural constituency.
The six-time Himachal Pradesh CM blamed the party's central leadership for lack of campaigning, as he accepted the Congress party’s defeat in the state Assembly elections. He refused to put the blame on Congress President Rahul Gandhi. "The elections were conducted under my leadership and I accept our defeat."
Addressing a press conference on the election results, BJP president Amit Shah offered his “heartfelt gratitude to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for giving the party another opportunity to serve them.”
He also expressed confidence that the BJP, under the leadership of PM Modi, will once again get the people’s support in the 2019 general elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to laud the victory of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, saying it indicates a “strong support for politics of good governance and development.”
(Video Editor: Sandeep Suman)
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