Congress planning to shift MLAs from Himachal to Rajasthan to prevent BJP’s poaching attempts

NEW DELHI: There are indications that the Congress is planning to shift Himachal Pradesh MLAs to Rajasthan to prevent BJP's ‘Operation Lotus’. Close sources revealed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda have been entrusted for this.

MLAs will be shifted to Rajasthan in buses. There are reports that AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi is reviewing the situation and will reach Shimla today.

Exit polls predicted that the BJP will break the three-decade long tradition in Himachal of ousting the incumbent ruling party and bring another party to power. The predictions are that the ruling BJP itself will return to power. However, when the first phase results are out, it is clear that the voters in Himachal have not gone back from the pattern that has been going on since 1985.

Hours after the counting of votes is progressing, the Congress is surging in Himachal with an absolute majority. Congress is leading in 38 seats while BJP has got only 27 seats. Meantime, the Aam Aadmi Party has not been able to get a single seat. In the 68-member Vidhan Sabha in Himachal, 35 seats are required to form the government. More than 75 percent of the state's 55 lakh voters had cast their votes in the polls held on November 12. A total of 412 candidates contested the election this time.