Union Minister Shanta Kumar, a critic of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, on Saturday said the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state failed to fulfil the "promises" it had made to the people and the poll verdict was an expression of "anger" against the party.

"We have to accept the verdict. I congratulate the Congress," he said.

"There were shortcomings in [the] performance [of the government] in the state," he said, adding that the government had promised development and corruption free administration.

"Hindutva was not an issue. The poll was fought on the basis of development and performance....," he said.

Denying there were differences between him and Dhumal, he said though there may have been differences on distribution of tickets, they had campaigned together.