BJP will form government in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh: Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday that the BJP will form government in Gujarat as well as Himachal Pradesh. The BJP today appeared to be on its way to retain power in Gujarat, with trends from 175 out of 182 Assembly seats giving it a lead in 100 seats while the Congress was following with 70.

"We will form government in both Himachal and Gujarat with clear majority," Singh said as election leads started trickling in.

"The result is as per our expectations. BJP is leading in both the states. BJP will form a government with clear majority in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh," the Home Minister added.

To form a government in the state, a party or a coalition needs at least 92 seats in the 182-member Assembly.

The elections for 182-seat Assembly were held on December 9 and 14, after an acrimonious campaign, which was dominated by a face-off between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

In the 2012 elections, the BJP had won 115 seats while the Congress emerged victorious on 61 seats.

The BJP has been in power in the state since 1995, winning consecutive elections in the home state of Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

(With inputs from PTI)