BJP retains power in Gujarat

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was set to retain power in Gujarat, with its candidates on the victory lap in 99 of the 182 seats as the Congress again settled for the second place, but with an improved showing (77).

After surprisingly leading over the BJP at one point, the Congress began to trail again. BJP had won 70 seats while it was leading in 29, as per information provided by Election Commission of India, at the time of filing the report. The Congress, on the other hand, had won 62 and was leading in 15 constituencies.

BJP supporters began celebrating in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar even though some of its leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel (Mehsana), were trailing to the Congress as officials counted votes polled on 9 and 14 December. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, too, trailed at one time in Rajkot West, but managed to reverse the situation after a while and ultimately won, the officials said.

Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, with Congress backing, was leading by 6,900 votes till the time of filing report.

As the BJP crossed the half-way mark of 92, the BJP heaved a sigh of relief. But the trends were very different from the exit poll predictions of a sweeping win for the BJP.

As overjoyed Congress activists, expecting a victory, began celebrating early in the day, the stock markets took a beating. But the Congress celebrations were short-lived, and the stock markets made a quick recovery.

Modi, who had been the Gujarat Chief Minister from 2001 until he became the Prime Minister in 2014, flashed a V-sign outside Parliament. Modi was the main campaigner for the BJP in Gujarat, his home state. It was the first Assembly election in Gujarat after Modi became the Prime Minister.

“We will form a government both in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in New Delhi.