Assembly elections 2012: Himach Pradesh CM Prem Kumar Dhumal says he will welcome decision of people

NEW DELHI: As trends showed reverses for BJP in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Thursday appeared prepared even for a defeat.

"Whatever people decide is good. It would be good if they support us, and good even if they don't. I will welcome the decision of people," he said when asked to react on the declining trends of his party's seat in the state.

Full Coverage of Assembly Elections 2012

Earlier when the trends showed that the BJP was leading in the state, Dhumal had voiced confidence of a victory in the polls.

"I am very confident (for a win)," he had said. While Congress was leading on 29 seats, BJP after initial gains, slowed down to 23 seats in Himachal Pradesh's 68 member legislative assembly.

Asked whether BJP's performance declined due to factionalism in the party, Dhumal said, "I don't comment on issues related to the organisation in the media."

Buoyed by the trends in Gujarat, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, "let us understand BJP is winning for the third time over and Congress is losing for the fifth time".

She downplayed contentions about a decline in the margin of victory for her party in the Narendra Modi-ruled state.

"Every election has its impact on national dynamics" was refrain when asked about the fall-out of Gujarat verdict on the national politics for the BJP.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi was leading in Maninagar. Both the Pradesh Congress Committee chief and the its legislature party leader Arjun Modhwadia and Shaktisinh Gohil were trailing.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the victory in Gujarat polls "makes Narenda Modi unstoppable in the BJP. He is very important Chief Minister for BJP but that has nothing to do with his national acceptability".