Himachal Pradesh Election 2017: Prem Kumar Dhumal is BJP's chief ministerial candidate, says Amit Shah

The BJP on Tuesday announced two-time chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as its chief ministerial candidate in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh.

BJP National President Shri @AmitShah declares Shri @DhumalHP as BJP's CM candidate for Himachal Pradesh. #Dhumal4CM pic.twitter.com/Lsur5I7fpX

— BJP (@BJP4India) October 31, 2017

Addressing a public meeting in Rajgarh in Sirmaur district, BJP president Amit Shah said Virbhadra Singh, instead of talking about his work and responding to allegations of corruption against him, was only persistently asking them at all public platforms under whose leadership was the BJP contesting the polls.

“Throughout the country we are contesting under the leadership of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi… in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is contesting under the leadership of Dhumal,” he said, drawing loud applause from the gathering.

“I want to tell Virbhadra Singh that the 2017 election would be contested under the name and leadership of our senior leader Dhumal,” Shah said.

The ruling Congress has already announced incumbent Virbhadra Singh as the next chief minister, if it retains power.

Shah, who started his five-day visit to the state on Monday, said, “I want to say this thing also that at present Dhumal is the former chief minister and the Leader of the Opposition and after 18 December, Dhumal would be the Chief Minister.”

However, the 73-year-old Dhumal, who is a two-time Chief Minister, was not present at the rally when his name was announced. In a tweet in Hindi later, he extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah on behalf of the the state’s people.

हिमाचल की जनता की ओर से प्रधानमंत्री @narendramodi जी और भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @AmitShah जी का धन्यवाद।

हिमाचल की जनता इस बार भाजपा की सरकार बनाएगी और हम सब मिलकर विकास का एक नया अध्याय लिखेंगे।

जय हिमाचल, जय हिन्द।

— Prem Kumar Dhumal (@DhumalHP) October 31, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded Dhumal and said he has rich administrative experience and will make a “wonderful chief minister” again. Elections to the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly will be held on 9 November and the votes counted on 18 December along with Gujarat.

With inputs from agencies