A day after polls, leaders take time off

SHIMLA: With polling for one of the most closely watched assembly elections coming to an end, political heavyweights took some time off on Friday after days of hectic electioneering.

Chief minister Virbhadra Singh, 83, who campaigned vigorously throughout the state, spent time with his supporters and family members at his private residence Holy Lodge.

The octogenarian leader did not show any sign of tiredness and remained upbeat about returning back to power.

“It was a closely contested battle; we put up a spirited fight and are sure to return to power,” he told a group of journalists at his residence.

Singh was accompanied by his 28-year-old son, Vikramaditya, who made his election debut from Shimla Rural this time.

Talking about his rivals, Virbhadra Singh said, “The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making exaggerated claims about regaining power.”

Virbhadra spent rest of the day inquiring about voting trends in the state over the phone.

Singh addressed more than 83 election rallies and public meetings across 68 constituencies in the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, BJP’S chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal spent time with his family members and supporters in his ancestral village, Samirpur.

Dhumal, who is confident of a “landslide” victory in the elections said,“it is the BJP that will form the government this time.” Dhumal’s son, parliamentarian Anurag Thakur, who too campaigned vigorously across the state, flew back to Delhi on late Thursday evening.

Transport minister GS Bali was at his home in Kangra. “I will try and complete all the pending work and also spend time with my supporters in my constituency,” said Bali. Urban development minister Sudhir Sharma, who was locked in contest with BJP’S former transport minister Kishan Kapoor, has planned a holiday with his family members.

BJP’S vanguard leader and four-time legislator Ravinder Singh Ravi, who was locked in a triangular contest from Dehra, relaxed at his residence in Palampur.

THE LEADERS ALSO KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON THE VOTING TRENDS TO KNOW THEIR CHANCES OF WINNING