With results of Assembly polls due on 18 December, the Congress and BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) are gearing up with their strategies for the number game, if required.

Even though the exit polls have boosted the morale of the BJP, which is confident of making the government clearly riding high on the trend of ‘vote for change’ every five years, it is in no mood to take any chances in  formation of the next government.

The party held a meeting of all the candidates in Bilaspur on Thursday to get feedback on field scenario and possibilities of their victory. Party’s CM face, Prem Kumar Dhumal was also present.

State BJP President, Satpal Singh Satti, however, called it more of a get together, before the poll results.

“We are confident of getting clear majority, the exit polls have corroborated it. In Parliament polls in 2014, the BJP polled 53.83 per cent votes in Himachal, the highest in the country. If we are able to retain this vote share, we may get many more seats,” Satti told The Statesman.

He said the BJP was not in touch with any candidates, contesting independently, as the party may not require their support.

On the other hand, the Congress party, which is hopeful of getting numbers nearer to forming the government, has termed the exit polls farfetched.

“Even the BJP men don’t believe that they are getting so many Assembly seats as the exit polls have shown.

The exit polls are often wrong. Himachal folks will prove them wrong again,” said state Congress chief, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Congress sources said the party, especially chief minister, Virbhadra Singh, is already keeping tabs on the independents in fray, who have chances of winning. So that in the close number game, the party can get their support.

n the 2017 Assembly polls held on 9 November, 60 out of the 68 sitting MLAs (one died) were in fray. The issues o state and central governance apart, the fight in this election was seen going down to the constituency level— as some MLAs above party lines faced anti-incumbency, especially in cases where they have ruled for more than two times.

The image of the candidate, performance and the attitude has weighed high on the minds of people, apart from various other issues that may have to do with the parties.

Himachal Pradesh has 68 Assembly seats.

It was a direct fight between the Congress and BJP in polls this time, although both the parties faced strong rebels on half a dozen seats each, who their hats in the ring as independents. A few rebels in Kangra, Shimla and Mandi are supposed to be strong.

The hill state has a trend of change in power every five years since 1985.