BJP, Congress fight it out as Himachal Pradesh all set to vote on Saturday

Rebels could spoil the party for several official candidates

Elections to the 68 seats of Himachal Pradesh will be held on Saturday. The election is taking place against the background of a severe bypoll defeat for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this year, the demise of Congress stalwart Virbhadra Singh and the presence of rebels from all parties waiting to spoil the chances of official candidates in a political scene dominated by small constituencies and narrow victory margins.

The Congress had its share of rebels, both from among sitting MLAs and those not contesting. “We are better placed than 2017 because we have taken up issues which are