This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Himachal Pradesh Election Results 2017: BJP Set To Form Government In Another Congress-Ruled State

Trends show it is a clear victory for the BJP.
Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Even as the BJP is in a neck and neck battle with the Congress in Gujarat, things look much smoother for them in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, where trends show that the party is sent to win.

Party workers in the state are already in the celebratory mood as Election Commission results show that the BJP has won in 1 seat while leading in 105 seats, the Congress is trailing far behind leading in only 70 seats at the moment.

#HimachalPradeshElections2017: Pradesh: Workers celebrate at party office in Shimla as trends indicate BJP's victory in the state. pic.twitter.com/0SlktZd6J1

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

However, BJP chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal is trailing in Sujanpur. Incumbent Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his son Vikramaditya are leading in their seats in Arki and Shimla Rural.

Vikramaditya Singh had earlier in the day said Congress will win, but it looks highly unlikely.

According to EC data, the incumbent CM is leading by over 4000 votes against BJP's Rattan Singh Pal. In Shimla Rural, his son is leading is also leading with over 4000 votes against BJP candidate Dr Pramod Sharma.

It's a close fight between Dhumal, who at the moment has a little over 10,000 votes, and Congress candidate Rajinder Rana who has over 12,000 votes.

The Indian Express had reported during the run up to the polls in the state that the Parivartan campaign started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah had seen success, indicating winds of change in the state.

During the last elections in 2012, Dhumal had lost against Singh with the BJP winning only 26 seats against 36 seats won by the Congress.

But feverish campaigning by the Modi-Shah duo seems to have done the magic that it did in Uttarkhand and in Uttar Pradesh.

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.