Shimla, Apr 13 (IANS): The opposition BJP on Thursday retained the Bhoranj assembly seat in Himachal Pradesh, its stronghold, in the by-poll, an election official said.

In a straight contest, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Anil Dhiman, a physician by profession, defeated Promila Devi of the Congress by a margin of 8,290 votes in the by-election held on April 9 for the constituency in Hamirpur district.

Dhiman polled 24,434 votes against 16,144 votes of Promila Devi, an Election Commission official told IANS.

The by-poll was necessitated following the death of two-time former Cabinet Minister I.D. Dhiman, who had won six consecutive elections from this constituency.

Anil Dhiman, who was leading in all the 12 rounds of vote count, is the son of the late I.D. Dhiman.

The election saw over 63 per cent voting.

Leader of Opposition and two-time BJP Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal told reporters that this victory was a clear indication that the party was going to form the next government in the state.

Assembly elections in the state are due in December.