Himachal polls: Virbhadra certain of Congress victory

Congress chief ministerial candidate Virbhadra Singh on 9 November said that he is certain of the party winning with full majority in the ongoing Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections.

The longest serving chief minister of the state, Singh told ANI: "We hope for the best. I am sure that the Congress party will be achieving full majority votes in the elections. The next government too will be of the Congress. I have a very long and successful political career."

"The derogatory remark by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the Opposition does not suit him," he added.

Singh has cast his vote along with his son Vikramaditya from Shimla.

Singh is fighting against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Prem Kumar Dhumal, two-time Chief Minister of the state, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is contesting 42 seats, followed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which is contesting 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each, and the CPI contesting three seats.

The main focus of the BJP's campaign was corruption, while the Congress hit out at the Opposition regarding the issues of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation.

A total of 50,25,941 voters are eligible to cast their votes and the polling will take place at 7,525 booths with EVMs and VVPAT.

Also read: Himachal Assembly Polls: BJP CM candidate Dhumal confident of victory with majority

The counting will be done on 18 December. 

-ANI