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Himachal Pradesh Election Result 2022 Highlights: Congress won 40 seats, BJP 25 and Independents 3 in the 68-member Assembly. The Aam Aadmi Party, which had had fielded candidates in 67 seats, failed to open its account.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge praised the people of Himachal Pradesh and his party's leaders for Congress' victory. Rahul Gandhi tweeted the party would keep all of its promises.
The newly elected MLAs of the Congress will meet in Shimla on Friday, and it's likely that they will approve a resolution allowing the Congress president to choose the CLP leader.
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Rajeev Shukla, AICC in-charge of Himachal Pradesh, speaking on the election result said the party is pleased it has got a chance to form the government. He further stated that the party will make every effort to uphold the ten promises it made to the people of the state.
"The newly-elected Congress MLAs would meet in Shimla on Friday post-election results and decide on electing the new legislature party leader," Shukla told PTI
"The party is sending two observers -- Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader Bhupinder Hooda-- along with me. We will be travelling to Shimla tomorrow where all the party MLAs have been called," Shukla said.
AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the Congress party winning the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections with a strong majority, said the victory is due to the efforts of the party leaders and workers.
She tweeted, “Heartfelt thanks and greetings to the people of Himachal Pradesh for giving mandate to the Indian National Congress.” She further thanked leaders and workers and said: “Your hard work paid off.”
Himachal Pradesh outgoing chief minister Jairam Tahukur who submitted his resignation after the BJP suffered a defeat in the state assembly elections, said, "BJP lost the Himachal Pradesh polls by less than 1% vote share, and Congress won with least vote share in the state's history. But I respect the poll results. Hope Congress elects their CM soon & starts working for the state."
In Himachal Pradesh, Congress appears to be a comfortable winner. While the charisma of PM Modi and his relentless campaigns are the biggest assets for the BJP, the Himachal result indicates that the saffron party is becoming heavily dependent on the PM.
All of Himachal election results are not in, but the Congress appeared to be perched comfortably and was ahead in 39 of the state’s 68 assembly seats, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led in 26.
With a margin of 9,918 votes, BJP candidate D S Thakur defeated six-term Congress MLA Asha Kumari for the Dalhousie assembly seat in Himachal Pradesh.
Rahul Gandhi thanks Himachal people, says 'all promises will be fulfilled'
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his sincere gratitude for the people of Himachal Pradesh, said "all promises made will be fulfilled'
"Heartfelt thanks to the people of Himachal Pradesh for this decisive victory. Hearty congratulations to all Congress workers and leaders. Your hard work and dedication really deserves the best wishes for this victory. I assure again, every promise made to the public will be fulfilled at the earliest," RahulGandhi tweeted in Hindi.
Pratibha V Singh, Himachal Pradesh Congress President, speaking on poll results in the state told ANI, "It is a very emotional moment for me as I can see the same kind of support from people as it was for late Virbhadra Singh. Chandigarh is easily accessible meeting point for MLAs & we are not worried about poaching."
Vikramaditya Singh, the son of former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh and currently serving Congress MLA from Shimla (Rural), said he would like to see his mother, state Congress president Pratibha Singh, serve as the chief minister and is even willing to give up his seat to make that happen. Vikramaditya Singh defeated his closest rival, BJP candidate Ravi Kumar Mehta, by 13,860 votes today to retain his seat.
Vikramaditya said, "As son, I would like to see my mother as the chief minister, but the decision in this regard will be taken by the winning candidates and the high command." Vikramaditya claimed that his father's legacy has helped the party get a clear mandate.
Vikramaditya Singh, a current Congress MLA from Shimla (Rural) and the son of former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, defeated the BJP's Ravi Kumar Mehta by a margin of 13,860 votes to keep his seat.
Veteran Congress leader Dhani Ram Shandil has retained his Solan seat in Himachal Pradesh, defeating his nearest BJP rival and son-in-law Rajesh Kashyap. Shandil defeated Kashyap by a margin of 3,858 votes.
Himachal Pradesh minister Sarveen Chaudhary lost the Shahpur seat in Kangra to Congress candidate Kewal Singh Pathania by a margin of 12,243 votes.