H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Chief Minister Dhumal tenders resignation
Shimla, March 2
The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has resigned following defeat of the BJP in the Vidhan Sabha elections. Mr Dhumal submitted his resignation to the Governor, Dr Suraj Bhan, last night who asked him to continue till the new government was formed.

The Kangra region holds the key to the government formation in Himachal Pradesh. (28k, 56k)

Vidya supporters rush to Delhi on CM issue
New Delhi, March 2
Amid day-long confabulations among senior Congress leaders over the choice of Chief Minister in Himachal Pradesh, some MLAs backing PCC chief Vidya Stokes are rushing to the Capital to convey their viewpoint to the party high command.

HP ELECTIONS
Royals lose favour
Shimla, March 2
The people of the hill state did not respond too favourably to candidates belonging to the erstwhile royal families. Out of the eight candidates from the former ruling families who contested elections, only three were successful. While Mr Virbhadra Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Rampur Bushair retained his Rohru seat by a reduced margin of over 17,000 votes, Mr Joginder Chand of the erstwhile Jubbal estate lost in Chopal to an Independent, Dr Subhash by 2571 votes.

• Detailed poll results

Chief Minister Dhumal tenders resignation

Shimla, March 2
The Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, has resigned following defeat of the BJP in the Vidhan Sabha elections.

However, Virbhadra Singh who was sworn as Chief Minister three times and his tenure lasted over eleven years, did not shift to this house. PTI

Vidya supporters rush to Delhi on CM issue
Prashant Sood
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 2
Amid day-long confabulations among senior Congress leaders over the choice of Chief Minister in Himachal Pradesh, some MLAs backing PCC chief Vidya Stokes are rushing to the Capital to convey their viewpoint to the party high command.

With reports about former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Mrs Stokes counting the number of MLAs backing them, AICC leaders here maintained that the election of the leader at the March 4 meeting of the newly-elected MLAs would be consensual.

The high command seems keen to give the reigns of power in the hill state to a leader with long administrative experience. Though there were indications that Mr Virbhadra Singh had an edge in the leadership sweepstakes because of ''more MLAs'' backing him and his administrative experience, senior party leaders were not willing to commit on the issue. ''The aim is to give an efficient, clean and stable government which copes up with the challenges facing the state,'' said a senior Congress leader.

The central observers will ascertain the views of the MLAs individually before the formal meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on March 4. AICC General Secretary Mohsina Kidwai who is in charge of Himachal Pradesh and CWC members, Mr Motilal Vora and Mr R.K. Dhawan, will leave for Shimla tomorrow to attend the CLP meeting.

The three leaders returned to the Capital yesterday after the Congress emerged victorious in the assembly elections. They will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi tomorrow.

Sources said the high command was not keen to prolong the issue of election of the CLP leader which is likely to be completed on March 4.

They said that among the issues being raised with the high command by loyalists of Mrs Stokes was that of rebel candidates, many of whom are believed to be supporters of Mr Virbhadra Singh. Former PCC chief Sat Mahajan, who has been elected from Nurpur, was among the leaders who met Mrs Kidwai today.

The high command has also begun consultations over the formation of the new ministry which is unlikely to exceed the size of the Dhumal ministry.

HP ELECTIONS
Royals lose favour
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 2
The people of the hill state did not respond too favourably to candidates belonging to the erstwhile royal families.

Out of the eight candidates from the former ruling families who contested elections, only three were successful. While Mr Virbhadra Singh, the erstwhile ruler of Rampur Bushair retained his Rohru seat by a reduced margin of over 17,000 votes, Mr Joginder Chand of the erstwhile Jubbal estate lost in Chopal to an Independent, Dr Subhash by 2571 votes.

Out of the four Ranis in the fray, only two were victorious. Mrs Chandresh Kumari, the Rani of Lambagaon, registered an impressive win over Mr Krishan Kapoor, the Transport Minister, in Dharamsala constituency and Mrs Asha Kumari, the Rani of Chamba, retained her Banikhet seat defeating Mrs Renu Chadda of the BJP by at least 900 votes.

Rani Kiran Kumari of Mandi who contested as a BJP candidate from the Mandi constituency came a poor third securing just 7687 votes as against 23,816 polled by the HVC supremo, Mr Sukh Ram, who won the seat, and 11,426 of Durga Dutt, the Congress candidate. Similarly, Rani Sukriti of Nalagarh was humbled by Mr H.N. Singh of the BJP by 3083 votes.

Mr Karan Singh, a brother of Raja of Kulu, Mr Maheshwar Singh, had to contend with third position in the Kulu segment where Mr Raj Krishan Guar, a veteran Congress leader emerged victorious with a comfortable margin of 7000 votes over his nearest rival, Mr Gobind Thakur, a BJP rebel.

Raja Mohinder Singh of the erstwhile Kutlehar state, contesting as an Independent, ended up at the fourth place with a meagre 6851 votes as against 12,380 of Mr Virender Kanwar (BJP), the winner.

Rebels of both the Congress and the BJP played the spoilsport for their parent parties in over 36 seats. The official BJP candidates ended up at the third position or even lower in as many as 12 seats. Mr JaiKrishan Sharma, the state BJP chief, finished third in Santokhgarh after Mr Mukesh Agnihottari of the Congress, who won the seat, and Mr Jagroop Chaudhary, a Congress rebel.

In Pragpur, which was won by Mr Navin Dhiman, a BJP rebel, the official BJP candidate Mrs Anita Sandal ended up at the fourth place. Even Mr Kishori Lal, a veteran BJP leader and Industries Minister, came a poor third in Bhatiyat which was won by a Congress rebel, Mr Kuldeep Pathania. Mr Bhupinder Singh, a BJP rebel, ended up at the second place.

The other segments where the BJP finished at third place are Chopal, Kumarsain, Theog, Shimla, Doon Shillai, Nahan, Nadaun and Mandi.

The position of the Congress was slightly better and its candidates ended up at the third place only in eight segments. These included, Kusumpati which was won by a Congress rebel, Mr Sohan Lal, Solan, Geharwin, Paonta-Doon, Pragpur, Jwalamukhi, Bhatiyatt, Balh and Dharampur.

The HVC, which won five seats in 1998, could secure only the Mandi seat this time and its candidates managed to poll substantial votes (over 5000) only in 10 seats which included Kusumpati, Doon, Kotkehloor, Ghumarvin, Santokhgarh, Karsog, Chachiot, Nachan, Balh, Gopalpur.

The Lok Jan Shakti opened its account by winning the Nahan seat and Mr Mohinder Singh, who floated the Lok Tantrik Morcha retained his Dharampur seat. The Samajwadi Party, the CPI, the CPM and other third front parties drew a blank.

Detailed poll results

Shivratri fair inaugurated
Our Correspondent

Mandi, March 2
The week-long Shivratri fair was formally inaugurated today in accordance with the centuries-old traditions by the Deputy Commissioner who performed prayers before the shrine of Madho Rai before the start of grand shobha yatra.

Over 200 hill gods and goddesses with their devotees dressed in their best followed the ratha of Madho Rai. Contingents of the police, the Home Guards and the NCC marched with the procession. The town resounded with the hill orchestra accompanying the devtas.

The shobha yatra terminated at Padal Ground. The Shivratri exhibition was also inaugurated.

For the first time in many years international Shivratri Fair has not been inaugurated by the Chief Minister because the new Chief Minister is likely to be sworn in next week.