The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to form the governments in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh — for the sixth time in the former and unseating the Congress in the latter.

As per trends, the BJP was leading in 106 seats in Gujarat, while the Congress was ahead in 74. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is now back in the lead against Congress leader Indranil Rajyaguru in Rajkot West and so is Deputy CM Nitin Patel in Mehsana where the Jignesh Mewani factor is at play. BJP state unit chief Jitu Vaghani, however, is behind in Anand. In Himachal Pradesh, the electorate has ‘swung’ again, bringing the BJP back to power and sending the Congress in opposition. Counting is underway for the Gujarat election result 2017 and Himachal Pradesh election result 2017 at 37 centres in Gujarat and 42 booths in Himachal Pradesh.

The result will decide the contest between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.

Highlights:

• The Congress had no ground base in Gujarat as they had been out of power for over two decades. So this performance is much better than what it should have been, says senior journalist Vir Sanghvi.
• In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home district of Mehsana, BJP leads on only two out of seven seats. The ruling party is leading in Kheralu and Vijapur, while Congress is ahead in Unjha, Visnagar, Becharji, Kadi and Mehsana.
• Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has won from Rakjot West.
• PM Narendra Modi shows victory sign while arriving in parliament.
• Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh says, “The results are in accordance with our expectations. It is a clear majority for our government. The victory should be attributed to PM Narendra Modi’s charisma.”
• Controversial Congress leader Alpesh Thakore, who claimed PM Modi got fair by eating imported mushrooms, now leading by 4420 votes from Radhanpur.
• Senior BJP leader Nitinbhai Patel trailing by over 2000 votes from Mahesana.
• Ashok Gehlot, the incharge of Congress campaign in Gujarat, reacts to the party’s loss in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. “Rahul Gandhi’s campaign was all about democracy. The Congress is performing well. Irrespective of final results, Rahul Gandhi is the winner. Rahul ran an issue-based campaign. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah only played with the emotions of people, this is not healthy for democracy,” says Gehlot.