In a huge setback for the Congress in the poll-bound Himachal Pradesh, 26 of its state leaders have switched to BJP. Those who switched sides include Dharampal Thakur Khand, former general secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee.
This comes with four days left for the Assembly polls in the state, which will see the ruling BJP led by Jairam Thakur taking on the main opposition Congress.
The leaders who switched parties were welcomed to the BJP by Thakur and Sudhan Singh, the in-charge of BJP state elections. BJP candidate from Shimla Sanjay Sood was also present on the occasion, reported ANI.
Welcoming the leaders into the fold, Thakur said: "Let us work together for the historic victory of the BJP."
Those who jumped the boat included former secretary Akash Saini, former councillor Rajan Thakur, former district vice president Amit Mehta, Youth Congress Rahul Negi, District Congress Committee secretary Devendra Singh and former general secretary of Youth Congress Munish Mandla.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur during the last leg of the campaigning on Monday expressed confidence that the BJP would rule the state for the next 25 years.
Dismissing the trend in the state where no incumbent government came to power, Thakur said Congress may be banking on Himachal's 'rivaj' (convention) but people have made up their minds to break from tradition this time.
Addressing poll meetings in Banjar in Kullu district and Chaupal in Shimla, Thakur said Congress leaders claim it is their turn this time. "We tell them that they used to say the same thing in Uttarakhand and other states. What happened there? Did they come to power again?"
"The Congress people are making various promises to people and saying we will give this guarantee, that guarantee. It is ironic that those who cannot give a guarantee for themselves are talking of offering guarantees," he added.
Referring to BJP-run Gujarat, Thakur said the party there has been in power for over two decades. Can't we do this in Himachal," he asked.