Ahmedabad:
The BJP on Monday retained power in Gujarat, securing a simple majority by winning 92 seats in the 182-member Assembly. It is leading in seven more, according to the Election Commission tally.
The opposition Congress followed closely behind the long-ruling saffron party with 75 seats in the bitterly-fought election whose campaign saw repeated face-offs between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
The BJP has been in power in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state uninterrupted since 1998. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the party's victory in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh a reflection of people's support for politics of good governance and development.
"I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP. I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly," he tweeted.
I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP. I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 18, 2017
BJP chief Amit Shah rejected suggestions that the contest in Gujarat was a "close fight" with the Congress in his Modi's home state.
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Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Shah also asserted that the poll outcome in favour of the BJP is a victory of performance and development against political dynasty.
Asked if there was a close fight with the Congress in Gujarat, he said an eight percent difference in vote share between the two parties cannot be seen as 'kante ki takkar'(close fight).
The BJP had won 115 seats in the 2012 Assembly poll and the Congress 61. The main opposition party has won 75 seats this time and is leading in two others.
