Himachal Pradesh Election Results 2022: Congress Workers Celebrate After Party Wins 40 Seats, Returns To Power. In Pics

Congress on Thursday registered a win in the hill state Himachal Pradesh with a simple majority. The Congress bagged 40 seats, compared to BJP's 25. Three seats went to Independents. Power has switched between the BJP and the Congress for nearly four decades, with both parties failing to win consecutive terms. Himachal Pradesh has not returned any incumbent government to power in the last nearly four decades. (Image Source: PTI)

For Congress, a victory in Himachal was much needed for its survival after a spate of electoral losses in the last few years. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who won the Seraj assembly seat in the Mandi district for the sixth time, resigned from office and stated that he respected the people's mandate. (Image Source: PTI)

Less than 1% separated Congress and the BJP in terms of vote share. The BJP received 43% of the vote, while the Congress received 43.9 percent. (Image Source: PTI)

The main factors that appeared to work in the grand old party's favour were anti-incumbency against the BJP government in power and the issue of price increases, with Congress promising to restore the old pension scheme and provide Rs 1,500 to every adult woman in the state. (Image Source: PTI)

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, expressed gratitude to the people of the hill state for the decisive win and reassured them that the party will keep all of its promises after voters rejected the BJP's slogan Raj nahin, riwaaj badlenge (changing tradition, not the government). (Image Source: PTI)

Rajeev Shukla, the head of the Himachal Pradesh branch of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), praised Priyanka Gandhi's leadership and campaign, praising her hard work. (Image Source: PTI)

She was also praised by senior Congress leader Anand Sharma for her spirited campaign in the state. He stated that the victory of the Congress in Himachal Pradesh will have repercussions and a ripple effect in states with upcoming elections. Three seats went to independents. (Image Source: PTI)