Jairam Thakur assures Himachal of development

Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 19 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jairam Thakur, who is one of the chief ministerial candidates for Himachal Pradesh, said on Tuesday that he would do whatever the party decides and would work for the development of the state.

"Whatever the party will decide I will do. I am very happy that there is going to be BJP government in Himachal Pradesh. I thank all the people of the state for voted for us. We will work for the development of the state. The party will also improve the law and order situation in Himachal Pradesh," Thakur told ANI.

Thakur won from Seraj constituency by defeating Chet Ram of the Congress.

Thakur was a cabinet minister in the BJP ministry in the hill state. He was Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.

He was elected to Himachal Pradesh Assembly from Mandi and had won his first election in the year of 1998.

Prem Kumar Dhumal, the original chief ministerial candidate, lost to Congress' Rajinder Rana.

Dhumal won 18,559 votes while Rana bagged 21,492.

The BJP has won 36 seats and was leading in eighty seats, while the Congress won 19 seats and was leading in 21 seats in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly.

Meanwhile, with BJP CM nominee Prem Kumar Dhumal ending in a defeat in the assembly polls, the coveted post of the state is likely to see a toss up between Thakur and Union Health Minister JP Nadda. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI