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The exit poll predictions for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections came in on Thursday, 14 December. All major pollsters predicted a landslide victory for the BJP in the state. There are 68 seats in the Himachal Assembly.
Voting in the single-phase elections took place on 9 November. The votes will be counted on 18 December.
The Congress – led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh – is the incumbent government in the state. Singh is the longest serving CM of Himachal.
Exit polls have predicted a landslide victory for the BJP in Himachal Pradesh. While these are just exit poll trends and not the final result, there is reason for the Congress to be worried in the state. Here are four questions the Congress needs to pay heed to.
According to the India Today-Axis poll, the BJP will sweep Himachal Pradesh. The BJP is likely to get 49 percent of the votes polled, it predicts.
The C-Voter analysis also suggested a BJP victory.
Vikramaditya, who is 28-years-old, is contesting from rural Shimla where his father, Virbhadra Singh, is the sitting MLA and commands considerable influence. In an interview to The Quint, he mentioned that he stood from the particular seat as party leaders may have considered it to be a safe choice.
Upon being asked if it was the right time to make a debut, Vikramaditya said:
Clarity among party workers and a shot at improving the BJP's political fortunes in Himachal Pradesh – that's what led BJP chief Amit Shah to name Prem Kumar Dhumal as the party’s CM face in the state, reported The Tribune.
The BJP had been deliberating on the decision to announce a key leader in the state for six months. The decision was taken by the party core committee and Amit Shah.
The exit poll prediction for the hill state of Himachal Pradesh were released on Thursday, 14 December. The key contenders in the fray for chief ministership are incumbent CM Virbhadra Singh from the Congress, who also happens to be the longest-serving CM of the state, and Prem Kumar Dhumal of the BJP.
What makes this election stand apart is that Singh – also referred to as Rajaji since he hails from a royal family – has chosen to contest from Arki, making way for his son, Vikramaditya, to make his political debut from his current seat, Rural Shimla.
The Himachal elections wrapped up in one phase, with the state going to polls on 9 November. The votes will be counted on 18 December, along with the the key state of Gujarat.
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Published: 14 Dec 2017,05:13 PM IST