BJP CM Face Prem Kumar Dhumal Concedes, Even as BJP Wins Himachal

But does this mean he won’t be CM? We don’t know yet.

(Photo:The Quint)

Yes, you read that right.

While BJP party workers in Himachal Pradesh have reason to celebrate, the celebration will be bitter for 73-year-old Prem Kumar Dhumal, the CM face for the BJP. Dhumal lost in his constituency of Sunjanpur. He admitted defeat before the EC announced his loss, as the gap between him and Congress’ Rajinder Rana widened to 3,000 votes in the day.

Dhumal, who is the father of Anurag Thakur, was declared CM candidate on 31 October, barely 10 days before campaigning ended by the BJP in Shimla. Some political analysts had said the delay could be a problem as only Dhumal had a pan-Himachal appeal within the BJP.

Then why did he lose?

Shimla-based political analyst and veteran journalist, Vepa Rao, said the reason for this loss is because Dhumal was moved from his traditional constituency in Hamirpur and made to contest elections from Sujanpur.

“They not only made him move from his traditional constituency, but they did it against his will. They also declared him as the CM candidate 10 days before campaigning ended, barely giving him any time to campaign as the CM candidate,” Rao said.

Rao also added that Rajinder Rana had done tremendous work and covered ground very well before the Himachal elections.

Shimla-based journalist, Saurabh Chauhan, said this moving of Dhumal against his will showed that Dhumal wasn’t the one who called the shots in the party.

They shouldn’t have done this to him. Also, there was talk within the party about how long he would remain CM for as there is an invisible age restriction in the party by Narendra Modi’s own admission of 75 years.

Saurabh Chauhan, Shimla-based Journalist

Rao added that it can’t be ruled out yet that Dhumal would become CM of Himachal Pradesh. “He can still be declared CM and have 6 months to be elected as an MLA. If the BJP wants it and are 100 percent behind him, then they will make it happen,” he added.