While Gujarat gave the BJP a bumpy ride to victory, not so Himachal Pradesh. Since 1985, the hill state never gave a successive mandate to any party but this round went decisively to the BJP. The incumbent Congress party under the aged eagle, Virbhadra Singh lost his seat himself and Congress just about won 20 seats out of 68. Himachal Pradesh is considered one of the best in governance parameters and that may account for the government change every time polls were held. The BJP had to suffer a surprise setback also as the chief ministerial candidate, Prem Kumar Dhumal had to bite the dust. There had been speculations for some time about a factional fight between Dhumal and Union Health Minister J P Nadda. But eventually the party had plumped for Dhumal as the CM face. Virbhadra Singh was also in a leadership clash with the state Congress chief Sukhwindar Singh Sukku. In the end, Virbhadra Singh had to fight the elections almost singlehanded. He had his long stint in public life to strengthen his position but charges of money laundering and disproportionate assets put him on a spot.
One other factor which went against the ruling Congress was the mess-up over the Shimla gang rape-murder case which made women’s safety an issue in the poll campaign prejudicing the Congress Party’s chances. The Party is now in unhappy isolation in North India with only Punjab under its belt. The Congress in Himachal Pradesh now has to groom a young leadership to fight the general election in 2019. The BJP for its part has to deliver on its promise of jobs, improved transport and safety for women. The state continues to sit on a see-saw.
