SHIMLA: In Himachal Pradesh, party’s chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal has lost Sujanpur Assembly seat to Congress’ Rajinder Rana.
The BJP is on course to form the next government in Himachal Pradesh, leading in 42 of 68 seats, and wresting the state from the Congress.
Earlier, BJP MLA Virender Kanwar who won from Kutlehar seat had earlier said he would offer his seat to Prem Kumar Dhumal if he loses the seat.
The defeat will be a big embarrassment for the BJP which declared him the chief ministerial candidate before the elections.
Satpal Singh Raizada and Vikramaditya Singh of the Congress party have won from Una and Shimla rural constituencies, respectively.
Vikramaditya was fighting for the first time from the seat vacated by his father and incumbent Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
BJP is currently leading with 42 seats compared to 21 for the incumbent Congress party, as per trends. The current chief minister Virbhadra Singh is the Congress candidate while former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has been fielded as the BJP candidate.
In 2012, the Congress won 36 seats in the 68-seat Assembly, while the BJP won 26 seats.
