By IANS
Shimla : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returned to power in Himachal Pradesh Friday after five years, unseating the Congress and warning that the decline of India’s ruling party had begun.
After delivering a second blow to the Congress in a week, BJP leaders warned that the verdicts in Himachal Pradesh and earlier in Gujarat proved the Congress was bound to lose Lok Sabha elections only 18 months away.
BJP general secretary Sushma Swaraj gloated in New Delhi: “The BJP victory is not going to be limited to Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. These are trailers of the Lok Sabha election.”
Arun Jaitley, another BJP general secretary, added: “With the victory in Himachal, the (BJP-led) NDA (National Democratic Alliance) is in power in 10 states. Seven of them are with the BJP alone.”
Another party leader, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said: “Himachal Pradesh will fuel our resurgence at the national level.”
The self-congratulatory comments came as the BJP bagged 34 of the 68 seats in the hill state’s assembly by noon and was on the winning track in six more, the Election Commission said.
In contrast, the Congress, which had decisively won the Himachal polls in 2003, had won only 22 seats and was leading in two more.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which ate into Congress support base, has won one constituency. Independents have bagged three seats.
The Himachal outcome overshadowed the celebrations of the Congress party’s foundation in 1885, leaving its members and supporters visibly disappointed and disgusted.
Himachal Pradesh’s new chief minister is expected to be BJP veteran Prem Kumar Dhumal, who will take the oath of office Sunday.
The BJP, which had remarkably retained power in Gujarat just five days ago, celebrated its latest victory with gusto both in the state and the national capital. BJP activists distributed sweets and raised slogans hailing Dhumal.
A relaxed Dhumal said the electorate had turned against the Congress on account of shooting prices of essential commodities, unemployment and corruption.
The atmosphere at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi was just the opposite. It was decked up with the party’s tricolour flags but became deserted as the election results poured in.
Many flags and carpets remained unused on the lawns of the 24 Akbar Road office, adjoining the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Congress leaders tried to put up a brave face.
“This is a vibrant democracy. Defeats and victories are part of it. We are all set to play a constructive role,” party secretary Tom Vadakkan said.
Himachal Congress leader Vidya Stokes said in Shimla: “Anti-incumbency was working against us.”
Stokes insisted that the Himachal verdict, which was widely expected, would not affect the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in New Delhi.
Party leaders said that factionalism in the Congress as well as popular mood led to the rout.
Thousands of officials began the vote count across 41 centres in the state Friday at 8 a.m. Polling for a new Himachal assembly took place in two phases, on Nov 14 and Dec 19.
A total of 336 candidates contested the elections. The Congress and BJP fielded candidates in all 68 seats. In 2003, the Congress won 43 seats and the BJP 16. Nine seats went to independents and smaller groups.