HP polls: Cong expresses faith in voters

The Congress party on Thursday said it has always worked for the welfare of Himachal Pradesh.

"We have faith on voters. The BJP has made false promises, run fake campaigns in the state to lure the voters. Since the foundation of Himachal Pradesh was laid to the present times, the Congress Party has always worked for people's welfare," Congress leader Anand Sharma told ANI after casting his vote in Shimla booth.

Echoing similar sentiments, Himachal Pradesh Congress president Sukhvinder Singh said, "The next government too will be of the Congress. The people in the state support the Congress because the party has worked for the welfare of the people."

Congress leader and incumbent Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is fighting against the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Prem Kumar Dhumal, two-time Chief Minister of the state, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is contesting 42 seats, followed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)), which is contesting 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each, and the CPI contesting three seats.

A total of 50, 25,941 voters are eligible to cast their vote and the polling will take place at 7,525 booths with EVMs and VVPAT.

The counting will be done on 18 December.