#IndiaDecidesOn18th: Constituency-wise results in Himachal Pradesh as BJP takes lead
Counting of votes is underway for the Himachal elections. By 3 pm, BJP had taken a lead in 41 seats, more than the halfway mark of 35, and Congress in 23. However, its main face, CM candidate PK Dhumal, was trailing far behind Congress in Sujanpur. Some important Congress leaders were leading in their constituencies. Here's a quick look at constituency-wise trends in Himachal.
The key wins and losses of 2017
CM Virbhadra Singh's son Vikramaditya (Congress), who debuted from his father's previous constituency Shimla Rural, won. Meanwhile, Virbhadra Singh is leading in Akri. Jubbal-Kotkhai, jolted by the gangrape-murder of a teenager, saw BJP's Narender Bragta win. Himachal BJP president Satpal Singh Satti lost Una. Champa Thakur (Congress), daughter of Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur, lost Mandi.
BJP leaves behind key Congress minister in Dharamshala
BJP has won or is leading in 41 seats (3 pm). Suresh Bhardwaj (Shimla), Kishori Lal (Anni), Dr Ram Lal Markanda (Lahaul-Spiti), Sukh Ram (Paonta Sahib) and Paramjeet Singh (Doon) won their respective constituencies. Other candidates including Reeta Devi (Indora) and Hans Raj (Churah) and Bikram Singh Jaryal (Bhattiyat) were leading. In Dharamshala, BJP's Kishan Kapoor left behind Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma.
Winners from the Congress, CPM and Others
Apart from Virbhadra Singh and Vikramaditya Singh, top Congress leader Rajinder Rana left behind BJP's Dhumal by over 3,000 votes in Sujanpur. Other winners included Congress' Anirudh Singh (Kasumpati), Vinay Kumar (Renukaji), Pawan Kumar Kajal (Kangra) and Indrajitsinh Natvarsinh Parmar (Mahudha). Apart from Congress, CPM's Rakesh Singha (Theog) and Independent Hoshiyar Singh (Dehra) defeated BJP-Congress heavyweights.
