Assembly poll results: BJP on victory march in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh
Follow UsThe BJP is set to form the government both in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. In leads announced this morning, the BJP is ahead in 99 seats in Gujarat currently with the Congress leading in 80 seats, Others(Independents and small parties) are leading in 5 seats.
In a major surprise during the day, Congress was leading over the BJP in Gujarat in 88 seats, however, it settled down later as the ruling party in Gujarat pulled ahead.
Home minister Rajnath Singh reflecting on BJP's show in Gujarat, said: "BJP will form government in both Himachal and Gujarat with clear majority. The result is as per our expectations."
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Gujarat fisheries minister Babubhai Bokhiriya defeated Congress' Arjun Modhvadia in Porbandar, with the saffron party set to retain power for a record sixth term.
The BJP has won every election since 1995 in the home state of PM Modi. However, it was out of power for a couple of years due to party infighting by Shankersinh Vaghela. BJP came back to power in 1998, and has ruled uninterrupted since then.
In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP dislodged the Congress leading in 45 seats with the chief minister Virbhadra Singh's Congress trailing way behind with 20 seats in the 68-seat assembly.
The results in Himachal was especially heartening for the ruling party at the Centre as another Congress bastion fell by a huge margin.
In Himachal, six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh and his son Vikramaditya Singh were leading from Arki and Shimla, however, the Congress party is on a losing streak in the state with the BJP leading in over 40 seats.
Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Himachal Pradesh is battling Congress candidate Rajinder Rana in Sujanpur in a see-saw struggle.