BJP ahead of Congress in Himachal (Second Lead)

Shimla Dec 18 (IANS) The ruling Congress trailed to the BJP on Monday in counting trends from the just ended Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

Officials in counting centres said that Bharatiya Janata Party candidates were ahead in 21 seats and the Congress in 14. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his son Vikramaditya Singh were ahead of their BJP rivals in Arki and Shimla (Rural) constituencies. State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti trailed to the Congress from Una. The verdict will decide the fate of 337 candidates including Chief Ministerial nominees Virbhadra Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal (BJP). A total of 37 83 580 people voted in the hill state -- a record 75.28 per cent polling. The Congress and the BJP contested in all the 68 constituencies. Most exit polls had predicted the BJP s return to power with an absolute majority. The hill state has alternately elected Congress and BJP governments since 1985. In 2012 the Congress won 36 seats and the BJP 26. Independents won six seats. --IANS vg/in/mr/ksk