BJP takes massive lead in Gujarat

As counting of votes got underway for the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, early trends showed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf. Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh, the battle is a close fight between the BJP and Congress.

After close to an hour of voting, early trends show the BJP is leading with 106 seats, 14 more than the required majority to form a government in Gujarat. Congress is trailing with 46 seats, a distant mark below the ruling party. The AAP which pulled out all stops to campaign in the state, is ahead on just seven seats.

The



counting of votes polled in the elections began at 8 am on Thursday amid tight security.

The ruling BJP contested all the 182 seats, while the new entrant in the state’s political landscape, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), contested 181 seats. The main opposition party, the Congress, contested 179 seats.

In Himachal Pradesh, the ruling BJP and the Congress are neck-to-neck with neither reaching the majority mark. The Opposition Congress is leading with 28 seats, 7 less than the required majority. The ruling BJP which is hoping to retain its power is hovering close to 26 in the lead so far.