Shimla: Congress was unable to retain its bastion Rohru, a seat that it was dominant on since 1990 when Virbhadra Singh the sitting chief minister decided to contest from there, winning the seat five times in a row.
Having lost four elections consecutively to his stronger adversary, Khushi Ram Balnahta after completing of counting today was declared winner from Rohru defeating greenhorn Manjit Thakur by over 8,473 votes.
Balnahta polled a total of 27,705 votes, where his rival Manjit managed to muster a support of 19,232 votes.
The seat witnessed a keen electioneering with chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and half a dozen of his cabinet colleagues camping in the constituency in the final round of electioneering, whereas for the congress union steel minister Virbhadra Singh and state party president Kaul Singh led the campaign to retain the seat.
The seat had fallen vacant after Virbhadra got elected to parliament from Mandi and had to vacate the assembly seat.
In Jawali, Sujan Singh Pathania of congress defeated Baldev Raj Chaudhary of BJP by 5249 votes, as counting of votes concluded.
Pathania, a four term MLA, returns to the assembly from a seat that was won by Rajan Sushant in the 2007 general legislative assembly elections.
However the seat fell vacant after Sushant was elected to parliament in May 2009.
Voting count
Rohru
Votes Polled 48,690
Khushi Ram Balnatah (BJP) 27,705
Manjeet Thakur (Congress) 19,232
Kewal Ram Negi (Ind) 808
Bihari Lal Chauhan (Ind) 946
Jawali
Votes polled 49,619
Sujan Singh Pathania(congress) 25,168
Baldev Raj (BJP) 19,919
Ashok Kumar Somal (Ind) 952
Madan Sharma (Ind) 3580
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
It was the result of a strong sympathy undercurrent in favour of Balnatah,progress maesures by Dhumal,chances of Balnatah to get in the cabine have brightened with conquering the most guarded citadell of congress in the apple belt.
The whole circumstances marks the arrival of anew political order in Himachal,
Plesae mark my words.
i am seein the reapeat of Dhumal government though early to say but a very formidable chance beckons.
(amit singh chauhan adv,Supreme court hails from Chopal and is a keen analyst of politics in Himacahal.)