The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday announced Prem Kumar Dhumal its chief ministerial candidate ahead of the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, reported ANI.

“I thank my high command, workers and people of Himachal Pradesh,” Dhumal told reporters. He has held the post in the state twice before, from March 1998 to March 2003 and from January 2008 to December 2012.

Last week, when Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released the party’s election manifesto, he had said, “One of our very experienced leaders will be the chief ministerial candidate”. Jaitley, however, did not say whether the party will announce a candidate or decide after the polls, calling it a “matter of strategy”.

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections will be held on November 9, and the results will be declared on December 18.