Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: As the Congress on Thursday wrested power in Himachal Pradesh by getting a simple majority in the state Assembly, the party’s president Sonia Gandhi said she was very happy and pleased with the results.
The Congress’s candidates have won 36 of the 68 seats.
Election Commission officials said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had won 24 seats and was leading on two seats.
Independents, mainly BJP rebels, won four seats and were leading on two seats.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who won from Hamirpur, has admitting BJP's defeat in the polls.
Congress veteran and five-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who led the party's campaign in the state, was elected by a record margin of 20,000 votes.
(With IANS inputs)
First Published: Thursday, December 20, 2012, 16:38