New Delhi: There could not have been a better end o the year for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Within days of Narendra Modi leading the party to its fourth successive win in Gujarat, the BJP dislodged the Congress in Himachal Pradesh on Friday.

Headed by a low-profile Prem Kumar Dhumal, the BJP won 41 of the 68 seats, reducing the Congress tally to 23 a loss of 20 seats. The two successive electoral victories have provided BJP workers the adrenaline for the next big fight with the Congress — Karnataka in February 2008.

Leader of the opposition LK Advani said “the resounding victories of the BJP show that 2007 is ending with an unmistakable statement about the coming change in the political equation in the country. This signals the BJP’s comeback trail has progressed further. It will reach its ultimate destination whenever the next parliamentary elections are held.” He went on to predict that “2008 will be a Parivartan Varsh (year of change) in India”

Of the six assembly elections held in 2007, the BJP won four -- Punjab, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. In three of these, it wrested power from the Congress.The BJP now rules seven states and the NDA, which it leads, 10.

But what the BJP left out of its count is its loss in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. It takes solace from the fact that the Congress fared even worse in that state. It is precisely for this reason that even as crackers continue to burst, the BJP leadership took some time off to ponder about the Karnataka polls.

The Election Commission is expected to announce the poll schedule for the state next week. Advani referred to Karnataka in his statement on Himachal results. He apparently discussed the issue with Arun Jaitley, who is likely to be put in charge of the party for the elections in the state.

While poll analysts are still gathering data to assess the impact Mayawati’s BSP had on the Congress’ Himachal prospects, preliminary feedback suggests even though the BSP won only one seat, it may have dented the Congress in certain pockets. If that is the case it could be a worrisome sign for the Congress in future elections.

Source : DNAIndia