BJP's Anurag Thakur takes lead in Hamirpur

{image-anurag gfthakur_25052008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Shimla, May 25: BJP candidate Anurag Thakur today extended his lead to more than 1.25 lakh votes over his nearest rival O P Rattan of the Congress in the Hamirpur parliamentary byelection in Himachal Pradesh held on Thursday. Mr Thakur is the son of HP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

The bypoll was held after Mr Dhumal resigned from the Lok Sabha on becoming the state Chief Minister following the assembly election last year. The BJP has taken a lead of over 81,000 votes alone in the five Assembly constituencies of Hamirpur district. The BJP had also established an early lead of about 25,000 votes in five constituencies of Una district, while trends for four seats in Bilaspur and three seats in Dehra sub division of Kangra district were yet to come in.

Mr Thakur thanked the voters for handing over an overwhelming victory to the BJP and promised to do his best for the people of the constituency.
"I am speechless. I thank the people for their whole heartedly support for the BJP. I will do anything within my means for the development of the constituency," he told newspersons here.

UNI