Stakes are high for six-time Congress Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal in high pitched 2017 Assembly poll battle in Himachal Pradesh, the results of which are due on 18 December.

The two senior leaders are facing each other for the fifth time as CM face of their respective parties, with two victories each in their kitty since 1998.

The polls to 68 Assembly segments in Himachal Pradesh were held on 9 November, with 74.6 per cent voters, highest in the state so far,turning out to exercise their franchise.

The BJP went to 2017 polls, riding high on the three decade trend of ‘change in power’ every five years, while the ruling Congress is hopeful of a close fight.

In 2012, the Congress had snatched power from BJP, getting 36 seats, while BJP, which was eyeing a repeat based on its performance then, was reduced to 26 seats. Five independents had won, while one seat was secured by BJP’s splinter group Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) that ultimately merged with BJP.

Unlike many times in the past, the state is witness to direct fight between ruling Congress and BJP in most of the constituencies n 2017, but for some strong rebels of two parties in half a dozen segments each.

The CPM is in fray formidably on few seats in Shimla district, with Theog, where senior party leader Rakesh Singha is contesting, its best bet.

The fate of 60 out of 67 sitting MLAs (one-Karan Singh-died earlier this year), including Congress ministers Kaul Singh Thakur, GS Bali, Mukesh Agnihotri and Sudhir Sharma, State Congress chief, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and state BJP chief, Satpal Singh Satti, is locked in the EVM machines. Eight-time MLA, Kaul Singh has lost only one election so far in 1990, Bali is four-time MLA in a row, Sudhir, Mukesh and Satti three-time MLAs consecutively.

Singh, 83, has already termed it as his last election of political career and for Dhumal, 73, it may be the last election to become CM, given the age bar imposed by BJP high command.

Congress sources said, Singh, who led the Congress campaign as CM candidate again, was more interested in settling his son, Vikramaditya Singh in politics this time. Singh had even left his Assembly constituency, Shimla (Rural) for Vikramaditya, 28, who entered the electoral field for first time. Singh himself went to Arki in Solan district for contest.

Two-time CM Dhumal, for whom it was a question of his own survival at the top, did have some anxious moments initially in the run up to polls as the BJP high command took a longer time to declare him the party face. Dhumal switched his seat from Hamirpur to Sujanpur in this election.

“We will form the government with good majority. Dismal performance of the Congress government apart on development front, corruption, shelter to mafia raj and the rising crime were the main issues in Himachal,” said State BJP Chief, Satpal Singh Satti. He said demonetization was never an issue, and GST also didn’t have much impact here.

State Congress President, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said Congress was hopeful of a repeat, based on its work, party organization’s strategic back-up and the feeling against Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s policies.

All eyes on biggest Kangra

All eyes are set on biggest Kangra district with 15 Assembly segments. So far, whosoever has won maximum seats in Kangra has formed government in the state over last 32 years. In 2012, Congress had got 10 seats in Kangra, BJP three. Two seats had gone to independents.

Polls hold national significance

Lot of prestige is attached to the Himachal polls along with Gujarat, as the results here carry political significance at the national level this time. For BJP, the victory would be another feather in Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s cap and for Congress, it may boost up newly appointed Congress President, Rahul Gandhi.

District wise tally in 2012 polls

Total seats: 68