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BJP-HVC gain majority in HP assembly

The Bharatiya Janata Party-Himachal Vikas Congress alliance has secured a majority in the 68-member assembly in Himachal Pradesh, after winning three of the four assembly seats where byelections were held. The result of the fourth is still awaited.

In the Mandi parliamentary constituency, BJP candidate Maheshwar Singh had established an unbeatable lead of more than 100,000 votes over his nearest Congress rival Pratibha Singh, wife of former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh in a five-cornered contest.

The consitutency comprises 17 assembly segments and counting has been completed in 12 assembly segments.

The BJP won the Pragpur (SC) and Bharmour (ST) assembly seats while the Lahaul Spiti (ST) seat was bagged by the HVC.

Tulsi Ram (BJP) defeated his nearest Congress rival Thakur Singh by more than 3,700 votes in a five-cornered contest in Bharmour.

Dr Ram Lal Markanda (HVC) defeated his nearest Congress rival Raghubir Singh by a margin of 646 votes in a four-cornered contest in Lahul Spiti.

Mirmala Devi (BJP) defeated Yog Raj (Congress) by a margin of more than 11,000 votes in a three-cornered contest, while the result of Kinnaur is yet to be known.

In the 68-member house having a current strength of 64 members, including the speaker, the BJP had 30 members, besides the support of two members of the the HVC and an independent, while the Congress had 30 members.

Now with its victories, the BJP has 32 members, and the HVC has three members.

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