Riding an anti-incumbency wave, the BJP on Friday swept back to power in Himachal Pradesh winning an absolute majority ousting Congress in the Assembly elections capping a year of triumphs in Gujarat, Punjab and Uttarakhand.
P K Dhumal (63), a professor of English literature, who was named as BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate, led the saffron surge winning from Bamsan in Hamirpur district beating his schoolmate and Congress candidate retired colonel B C Lagwal by 26,000 votes.
Dhumal, who also represents Hamirpur in Lok Sabha, is likely to be chosen as the leader of the BJP’s Legislature Party tomorrow and may be sworn in for a second term as Chief Minister on Sunday.