What was being predicted as a ‘close contest’ turned out to be a one-sided affair with BJP winning or leading in 47 out of the 70 assembly constituencies in Uttarakhand. Congress, which had been saying it was confident of securing a majority, had a win or lead in only 19 seats, while 2 seat each went to BSP and independents.

The victory came despite BJP facing anti-incumbency and several opinion polls also predicting a hung assembly. Incidentally, the ‘CM faces’ of all three major parties – Pushkar Singh Dhami of BJP, Harish Rawat of Congress and Col Ajay Kothiyal (retd) of AAP – lost.

Soon after results were announced, CM Dhami said “the fact that BJP has got 2/3rd majority is proof that people have voted in n favour of those who have worked for the public good.” Responding to his own electoral defeat, Dhami said that “whether I remain CM or not, work done by the BJP government will continue.” He added that “soon after the new government is formed, a Uniform Civil Code will be implemented in the state as we had promised."

(With inputs from agencies)