Summary:
Dehradun, Mar 10 (PTI) The BJP headed for a second consecutive victory in Uttarakhand on Thursday, breaking the trend of the hill state voting out the ruling party, but Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami lost from the Khatima assembly constituency.
The BJP has won 31 seats and is leading in 16 out of the total 70 seats till 6.30 PM, belying pollsters who had predicted a close race between the ruling party and the Congress, which has bagged 12 seats and is ahead in seven.
The BSP has won one seat and was leading in another while Independents were leading in two.
The Aam Aadmi Party which had promised a number of freebies has not opened its account despite fielding candidates from all the 70 seats.
The defeat of Dhami who led the BJP"s campaign against the Congress in the state throws up a big question before the saffron party on the issue of choosing the next chief minister.
Dhami was appointed the chief minister last July, replacing Tirath Singh Rawat who resigned within four months of taking charge from Trivendra Singh Rawat.