ONI Bureau: As expected, people of Himachal Pradesh rejected the incumbent Congress Party and voted for the BJP to ensure a change of guard in the state. BJP is leading in 42 out of 68 seats that went to polls. Congress is leading in 23 seats. Others are leading in 3 seats.
However, the Exit Polls proved to be wrong, as they had predicted over 50 seats for the BJP. The Congress still managed to give a fight. BJP’s CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal and State Unit President Satpal Singh ‘Satti’ are trailing.
Himachal Pradesh has a track record voting out the incumbent in each election. Both BJP and Congress have strong base in the state.