Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday accepted the Congress party's defeat in the state assembly elections.

"I own responsibility for my party's defeat," he told reporters in Shimla.

He was categorical in accepting the mandate by saying: "It's the people's decision to make one victorious. This is their right."

Six-time Chief Minister, Singh, who won his Arki seat with a margin of 6,051 votes, blamed the party's central leadership for lack of campaigning.

"Whatever are the shortcomings, I did my best during campaigning alone in the state and that too, within my resources," he added.

He refused to put the blame on Congress President Rahul Gandhi. "The elections were conducted under my leadership and I accept our defeat."

His son, Vikramaditya Singh, tasted his maiden victory in the assembly from Shimla (Rural).

Congress cabinet Ministers Sudhir Sharma, Thakur Singh and Prakash Chaudhary faced defeat from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The BJP was set to wrest power in Himachal Pradesh with its candidates on a victory lap in 36 of the 68 seats in the Assembly elections. The party won 21 seats as counting of ballots progressed. 

However, BJP's state chief Satpal Singh Satti faced a humiliating defeat, while its Chief Ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal was trailing with a huge margin.

The ruling Congress managed to win only 10 seats.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, on Monday congratulated the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for "choosing development", as the BJP was poised to win assembly elections in both states.

She said by voting in favour of BJP, the people of the two states have "proved" that they want development.

In a press note issued by the Chief Minister's Office, she said: "The credit of this success goes to the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is dedicated to the progress of the country. Similarly, Party president Amit Shah's working should also be praised who is burning the midnight oil to strengthen the party across the country."

Attributing the party's success to these two leaders, she said their hard work and dedication for the country's development are bringing in consecutive victories for BJP in India.

She added that "these elections have proved that there is no substitute to Bharatiya Janata Party".