Himachal Pradesh has voted to upset many plans, if the exit polls, which don't always get it right, are anything to go by. A neck-and-neck battle is predicted in the state between the BJP and Congress, despite severe anti-incumbency and leadership crisis in the state unit of the BJP. According to the India Today-Axis My India exit polls, it is advantage Congress in the hill state, while the BJP, looking to make history with a record second consecutive term, is set for disappointment.

The BJP may fall short of its 2017 performance, when it won the most seats in the state - 44, and may manage to win between 24 and 34 seats. The saffron party, according to the predictions, may not be able to breach the halfway mark in the 68-member assembly. 

The Congress, according to the poll pundits, may grab anything between 30 and 40 seats - a major improvement from the 21 it won in 2017.

New entrant Aam Aadmi Party, contesting in the hill state for the first time to build up on its plan to build a national presence, will likely not bag any, the exit poll showed. 

More Independents are likely to win this election. Around four seats will go to the Independents, a 100% jump from 2017.

The Congress will win 44 per cent vote share in the state, the BJP is predicted to win 42 per cent while others are pegged to win 12 per cent share.

(With inputs from agencies)