Himachal polls: Congress fails but father-son duo Virbhadra Singh, Vikramaditya emerge victorious

Himachal Pradesh's most famous leader and longest-serving chief minister (four-time) Virbhadra Singh couldn't take the Congress party to victory in the state, but he and his son Vikramaditya Singh - a first time candidate - won the elections with definite margins. Former Himachal Pradesh CM's son Vikramaditya Singh, who secured 28,275 votes, won the high-profile Shimla Rural seat by a margin of just 4,880 votes from his nearest rival Dr Pramod Sharma, who got 23,395 votes. The third candidate, an independent, MD Sharma, could get just 668 votes. Though both the top candidates were first-timers fighting on party tickets, the contest between them was considered very close.

Former Himachal Pradesh University professor Dr Pramod Sharma, a one-time Virbhadra Singh loyalist who contested on the BJP ticket this time, was considered a strong candidate by many, though he was not fully successful in breaking into Virbhadra's extremely strong vote bank in the latter's former constituency. The prestigious constituency was earlier held by Virbhadra Singh, who this time fought from the Arki constituency. The CM had earlier claimed he wanted to contest from a seat the party had not won before. Virbhadra Singh got 34,499 votes from Arki constituency against his nearest rival from the BJP, Ratan Pal Singh, who got 28,448 votes.

I'll always stand with govt, whichever party it might be of, & serve people. As a son I am sad we couldn't make it possible for him (Virbhadra Singh) to become the CM 7th time. We'll analyse our drawbacks in meeting: Vikramaditya Singh, leading in Shimla Rural #HimachalElectionspic.twitter.com/GEV1CTnQfQ

- ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

 

As per the latest numbers on the Election Commission website, the BJP has already won 19 seats and is leading on 25 seats, while the Congress party is leading on 9 seats after winning 12 seats. However, in a shocking embarrassment to the saffron party, Virbhadra's arch rival and BJP's chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal lost Sujanpur. Assembly seat to Rajinder Rana, who secured 21, 492 votes against former Himachal CM Dhumal who had to satisfy with 18,559 votes. Another candidate in the poll fray, Joginder Kumar Thakur of CPM, could get just 871 votes.

Personal loss is not of much importance.The gain that victory has brought to state BJP is important. Thankful to people of the state for voting for BJP. In politics, sometimes one wins, sometimes one loses. I was not expecting to lose, I will do an analysis: PK Dhumal #Himachalpic.twitter.com/7UrumoxVhp

- ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

It's a symbol of people's confidence in Congress. Thankful that they made me victorious. We have never stepped back from serving people in Sujanpur & we will always serve them: Rajinder Rana, Congress candidate who won in Sujanpur against BJP's Prem Kumar Dhumal #HimachalResultspic.twitter.com/LZQE9Hiazj

- ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

This time's election was a litmus test for Virbhadra who was apparently fighting his last election this time. The 83-year-old veteran politician, however, couldn't buck the anti-incumbency trend, which is an unlikely phenomenon in HP. Accepting his party's defeat in Himachal, Virbhadra said the central leadership of Congress did not spend much time in Himachal Pradesh. He added that it's a tradition in Himachal Pradesh where "the Congress and the BJP keep winning alternately".  

BJP President Amit Shah said voting percentage in Himachal Pradesh had improved by over 10 per cent. He added the Assembly election result showed Himachalis wanted to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's model of development.