Himachal Pradesh opinion poll: BJP all set for a big win, development the key issue

New Delhi: BJP will register victory in the November 9 Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections by defeating the Congress government led by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, an opinion poll conducted by India Today-Axis My India has indicated.

According to the poll, BJP will garner 43 to 47 of the total 68 seats in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly. As the majority mark is 35, BJP will easily romp home victorious.

On the other hand, the Congress will bag 21 to 25 seats and will lose to the BJP, according to the opinion poll. Other parties, including independents are likely to win just two seats.

In the 2012 Assembly elections, the Congress contested under the leadership of Virbhadra Singh and won 36 seats. The BJP could garner just 26 seats. Virbhadra Singh took oath as the chief minister for a record sixth time.

As far as the vote share is concerned, BJP, which looks poised to win the Himachal Pradesh elections, is likely to get 49 per cent – almost half – of the votes polled. Against this, the ruling Congress will garner 38 per cent of the vote share.

BJP to Maintain Lead over Congress in Shimla

The BJP is likely to maintain a lead over the Congress in all the three regions of Kangra, Mandi and Shimla which have 25, 24 and 19 Assembly constituencies respectively. The BJP may win 18, 15 and 12 seats while the Congress seven, nine and seven respectively.

On vote share too, BJP will be ahead of the Congress in all the three regions. It will garner 52 per cent, 49 per cent and 46 per cent vote share in Kangra, Mandi and Shimla respectively while the Congress will bag 35 per cent, 37 per cent and 39 per cent.

Though the BJP appears to be winning the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is still the most popular leader in hill state. Of all the people surveyed, 31 per cent felt that Singh should be the chief minister.

Leaders on Popularity Chart Singh was followed by Union Health Minister of the BJP JP Nadda (24 per cent), former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of the BJP (16 per cent), former chief minister Shanta Kumar of the BJP (9 per cent) and BJP Himachal Pradesh president Satpal Singh Sati (2 per cent).

Asked to give their opinion on Singh, 28 per cent of those surveyed said he had contributed for development while 8 per cent found him impressive. On the contrary, 6 per cent said he was involved in various issues and 3 per cent said he did not contribute towards the state’s development.

Whatever the politicians may harp on, but an overwhelming majority (82 per cent) of the people felt that employment is the biggest issue in the elections. Just 7 per cent felt employment, 4 per cent roads and 3 per cent felt the chief ministerial candidate will make a difference.

IANS