Dhumal congratulates Congress

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conceded defeat in Himachal Pradesh with incumbent chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal saying the party had accepted the poll verdict.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conceded defeat in Himachal Pradesh with incumbent chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal saying the party had accepted the poll verdict.

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"Mandate is important in democracy. Trends show that people have voted in favour of the Congress. We welcome and accept the verdict," Dhumal said at Hamirpur circuit house where he was keeping an eye on election trends since early morning.

"Whatever people decide is good. It would be good if they support us, and good even if they don't. I will welcome the decision of people," he said, as trends went against the BJP.

On future course of action, Dhumal said the party would introspect. "We will try to find out all the reasons that led to the defeat," he said. Dhumal, who won from Hamirpur constituency, wished the Congress luck. "We hope the next government will work for public welfare. I congratulate the Congress and individual candidates who have won the elections."

Trends at noon showed the Congress led in 37 seats and the ruling BJP in 24. The election was being seen as possibly the last chance that Virbhadra Singh, a five time chief minister, had of resurrecting his political career after he had to step down as union minister this year after he had been chargesheeted in the CD case.