BJP retains power in Gujarat for the sixth time

BJP has retained power in Gujarat for the sixth time in a row and swept the polls in Himachal Pradesh by finishing just short of two-third majority.

The party romped home in Gujarat again by bagging 99 seats, seven more than the mark of absolute majority in the 182-member House. 

Congress won 77 seats. NCP got one, while Bharatiya Tribal Party won 2 seats. Three independent candidates won the people's mandate.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy CM Nitin Patel, Congress leader Paresh Dhanani and Independent candidate Jignesh Mevani were among the prominent winners in Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, the consecutive victory of BJP in the recent elections proves that the country is ready for reform and shows peoples' belief in



transformation. Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi after the victory, Mr Modi said, the results indicate a strong support for politics of good governance and development.

BJP Parliamentary Board has decided to send central observers in the two states to oversee the election of legislature party leaders. Briefing reporters after the meeting in New Delhi, party leader and Union Minister JP Nadda said, senior Union Minister Arun Jaitley and party leader Saroj Pandey will be the observers for Gujarat, while Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Narendra Singh Tomar will be the observers for Himachal Pradesh.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, his party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulated the new governments in both states.