PHOTOS | Assembly elections results: Congress wrests Himachal Pradesh from BJP

The Congress on Thursday wrested Himachal Pradesh from the BJP as it crossed the majority mark of 35 seats in the 68-member Assembly in the hill state which maintained its tradition of not voting any incumbent government to power since 1985.

The Congress on Thursday wrested Himachal Pradesh from the BJP as it crossed the majority mark of 35 seats in the 68-member Assembly in the hill state which maintained its tradition of not voting any incumbent government to power since 1985. (Photo | Parveen negi, EPS) 

Congress candidate from Shimla seat Harish Janartha celebrates his victory in the Himachal Pradesh elections, in Shimla. (Photo | PTI)

In the latest results and trends available, the Congress won 39 seats and was leading in 1, while BJP registered a win on 18 seats and was leading in seven others. Three Independents also emerged victorious. Aam Aadmi Party, which had contested on 67 seats, failed to open its account. (Photo | PTI)

People watch the live broadcast of the results of the 2022 Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections on television, at an electronics' showroom in Gurugram. (Photo | PTI)

Congress' Priyanka Gandhi led the party's charge in Himachal Pradesh with several rallies and was also closely involved in strategy planning for the polls. Many leaders hailed her leadership in securing the win for the party and defeating the BJP's election machinery. (Photo | PTI)

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said he respects the mandate of the people and submitted his resignation to the governor. (Photo | PTI)

Himachal Pradesh has not voted any incumbent government to power since 1985. (Photo | PTI)

The Congress had promised to bring back the old pension scheme and provide jobs to the youth among other things in its campaign. (Photo | PTI)

BJP candidate and son of late Sukh Ram Anil Sharma celebrates his victory with supporters in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, in Mandi. The BJP's campaign in Himachal saw a special focus on women and youth, with the party rolling out a standalone manifesto for women for the first time in the state's history.(Photo | PTI)

Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh's son and sitting Congress MLA from Shimla (Rural) Vikramaditya Singh retained his seat by defeating his nearest rival Ravi Kumar Mehta of the BJP by 13,860 votes.(Photo | PTI)

Congress candidate Sunder Singh Thakur flashes the victory sign as he celebrates his win in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, in Kullu. (Photo | PTI)

Former Union minister Sukh Ram's son Anil Sharma of the BJP retained his Mandi Sadar seat defeating his rival from the Congress. BJP candidate D S Thakur defeated six-time Congress MLA Asha Kumari in Dalhousie assembly seat by a margin of 9,918 votes. Asha Kumari was among the chief ministerial probables. (Photo | PTI)