Modi's BJP retains Gujarat with landslide win, loses Himachal Pradesh to Congress

Registering its best performance in Gujarat, the BJP's tally of seats touched 156 decimating the already beleaguered prime opposition party Congress, which managed to bag only 17 seats.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which led an aggressive campaign unlike Congress, won 5 seats and got approximately 13 percent vote share, something that would be interesting to follow in the next five years.

Image Credit: UNI

Though political pundits, seldom Congress, have often accused the AAP of splitting the opposition votes in favour of the BJP, the saffron party has apparently diluted the debate by improving its vote share to 52.5% (provisional).

BJP MLA-elect, Bhupendra Patel, who will take oath as the CM for another term on Dec 12, won from Ghatlodia by 1.92 lakh votes.

AAP's CM face Isudhan Gadhvi lost to the BJP in Khambhalia by 19,000 votes.

Image Credit: UNI

Reacting to the mammoth win, Modi, who has been the Chief Minister for 12 years until he became the Prime Minister, thanked his home state for reposing faith in the BJP over "development".

Prime Minister Modi, who is the supreme leader of the BJP, tweeted, "Thank you Gujarat. I am overcome with a lot of emotions seeing the phenomenal election results.

"People blessed politics of development and at the same time expressed a desire that they want this momentum to continue at a greater pace. I bow to Gujarat’s Jan Shakti."

Cutting across the saffron celebrations, Modi-led BJP's dream to return to power in hill state Himachal Pradesh, which traditionally elects alternate governments in five years, was shattered as Congress saved its grace for the day winning back the state.

Led by a spirited campaign by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress has won 40 of 62 seats while the BJP ended up winning 25 seats.

The vote share has been the silver lining for the BJP, which has got 0.9% less than the Congress' 43 percent.

Reacting to her party's victory, Priyanka tweeted, "Heartfelt thanks and greetings to the people of Himachal Pradesh for giving mandate to the Indian National Congress. This is the victory of the resolution of the people of Himachal for the issues and progress.

"Best wishes to all the leaders and workers of the Congress party. Your hard work paid off."

Assuring full cooperation with the state even after the BJP's exit from power, Modi tweeted, "I thank the people of Himachal Pradesh for the affection and support for the BJP. We will keep working to fulfil the aspirations of the state and raise people’s issues in the times to come."

(Images by UNI)