This is the first assembly election in Gujarat since Narendra Modi became the prime minister in 2014. Photo: PTIAhmedabad/Shimla: The BJP fought off a strong challenge from Rahul Gandhi-led Congress to win the Gujarat assembly polls for the sixth straight time today, and also wrested power from the Congress in Himachal Pradesh with a close to two-thirds majority.
The twin victories tightened BJP's grip over the country's politics that saw Congress lose one more state with general elections only 18 months away.
Still, the euphoria in the BJP camp was tempered by the lower-than-expected margin of victory in Gujarat -- it took 99 seats in the 182-member assembly, down from 115 it won in 2012, and far lower than the 150-plus seats it had hoped for.
The Congress won 77, up by 16 seats at the end of counting of votes in the Gujarat polls tonight that was marked by acrimonious exchanges and rhetoric during the high octane campaign.
Prime minister Narendra Modi hailed the party's victory in Gujarat--where it has been continuously in power since 1998 --as "unprecedented", noting that retaining office was once considered a huge achievement in the country.
Modi also said the win in Gujarat this time was not 'samanya' (normal) but 'asamanya' (special).
He accused the Congress of promoting casteism in the elections, and said there were "many forces at work" besides the opposition party to bring the BJP down.
"In their hunger for power, some people tried to sow the seeds of casteim in the last few months for the elections. The people rejected it," he said.
Gujarat is a prestigious trophy for the BJP given that both Modi and BJP president Amit Shah hail from the state. The two leaders personally led a high-pitched campaign to counter Gandhi, who grew in influence with well chosen homilies, one- liners and clever barbs to target the BJP on issues such as GST, corruption and development.
The elections, especially the Gujarat polls, became a virtual trailer for the next Lok Sabha elections, which should be held before May 2019.
Today's victories establish not only the BJP's supremacy but also Modi's apparent invincibility. Yet, it also made Gandhi, who recently assumed Congress presidentship, a serious challenger as he appeared more confident in taking on the BJP stalwarts.
Shah pointed out that though the BJP lost 16 seats in Gujarat, its vote share rose by a little over 1 per cent to 49.1 per cent compared to the 2012 Assembly polls.
The Congress, which had 61 in 2012, also improved its vote share, which touched 41.4 per cent--a two per cent increase. The Congress was also helped by young Patidar and Dalit leaders Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mewani in its campaign against the BJP.
"This is double joy for me," said Modi, a former Gujarat chief minister, in a victory speech at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi.
He said he was happy that his successors continued the development work which he had spearheaded during his stint as chief minister from 2001 to May 2014.
In a tweet, Modi said: "I assure (people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh) that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly."
Regaining power in Himachal Pradesh, the BJP bagged 44 seats, falling short of a two-thirds majority by two seats in the 68-member house. The BJP, which had won 26 seats in 2012, recorded a 10 per cent jump in vote share that touched 48.7 per cent.
The Congress bagged 20 seats and was leading in one. The ruling party had 36 seats earlier, and its vote share declined by 1 percentage point to 41.8 per cent. The CPI-M and an independent bagged one each. An independent was also leading in one seat.
Amid the victories, there was some disappointment for the BJP -- Prem Kumar Dhumal, the party's chief ministerial candidate in the hill state, lost to Congress' Rajinder Rana in Sujanpur, after he changed his traditional constituency of Hamirpur. He was made the CM face only nine days before the polling.
In a tweet, Gandhi said his party "accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both states."
He thanked his party members for fighting "anger with dignity."
The Congress now rules only Karnataka and Punjab among the major states, besides Puducherry, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Karnataka elections are due next year.
"We have set a record in the history of the BJP by winning consecutive assembly polls... Anti-incumbency is not working there. The prime minister's popularity is intact. Amit Shah's strategy has worked," BJP vice-president Shyam Jaju said.
As the victories became clear, party workers gathered in the streets and headquarters, distributing sweets and bursting firecrackers.
The BJP's dip this time was touted by the Congress as a reflection of Gandhi's efforts during the campaign, when he appeared to have improved his reputation as a politician.
"The Congress' tally has gone up there, while the BJP's numbers have fallen. This is the start of Rahul Gandhi's political story," senior Congress leader Kamal Nath told reporters outside Parliament.
The BJP said what matters is the victory.
"Jo jeeta wohi Sikandar (whoever wins is the king)," said Union minister Smriti Irani, when asked if the Congress gave her party a tough fight.
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani retained his Rajkot West seat, defeating Indranil Rajyaguru of Congress.
The December 9 and 14 elections took place in the backdrop of GST and demonetization, which the opposition had claimed would inflict a huge dent in Modi's popularity.
Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel won the Mehsana seat against Congress candidate Jivabhai Patel. Mehsana was the epicenter of the Patidar reservation agitation.
The BJP has won every election in Gujarat since 1995. However, it was out of power for a couple of years in between elections due to party infighting and rebellion by Shankersinh Vaghela. BJP came back to power in 1998, and has ruled uninterrupted since then.
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Lotus blooms
Prime minister Narendra Modi flashes victory sign after BJPs success in Himachal and Gujarat assembly elections, on his arrival for the winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday. PTI
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Lotus blooms
BJP president Amit Shah flashes victory sign as he is accorded warm welcome on his arrival at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Monday, after the party's victory in the Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. PTI
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Lotus blooms
Party workers and supporters celebrate their success in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, in New Delhi on Monday. PTI
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Lotus blooms
BJP Mahila Morcha workers celebrating party's success in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections in Bhopal on Monday. PTI
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Lotus blooms
Congress party supporters celebrate after a party candidate's win in the Assembly elections, outside the Gujarat College counting centre in Amedabad on Monday. PTI
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Lotus blooms
NDA supporters celebrate success in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections 2017, in Patna on Monday. PTI
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Lotus blooms
Party workers celebrating BJPs success in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, outside the BJP headquarter, in New Delhi on Monday. PTI
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Lotus blooms
Party workers and supporters celebrating BJP's success in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh state assembly elections, outside the BJP headquarter in New Delhi on Monday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Voters showing their voter ID cards at a polling booth during Gujarat Assembly election in Surat on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi meets people during a public meeting in Gujarat's Anand on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Voters from Sant Swaminarayn Gurukul showing their voter ID cards at a polling booth during Gujarat Assembly election in Surat on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Senior citizen coming out after casting their vote during the first phase of Gujarat Assembly election in Rajkot on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
An elderly woman voter being helped by security-men at a polling booth during Gujarat Assembly election in Surat on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Indian cricket player Cheteshwer Pujara shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote in the first phase of Gujarat Assembly election in Rajkot on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi greets party supporters in Limbasi village of Kheda district in Gujarat on Friday to campaign for the Assembly elections. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
A BJP leader felicitates prime minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign rally for Assembly election in Lunawada town of Panchmahal district of Gujarat on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani with his wife Anjali Rupani shows their ink-marked fingers after casting their vote during the first phase of Gujarat Assembly election in Rajkot on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Congress leader Arjun Modhwadiya shows his inked finger after casting vote in a polling booth in Porbandar, GUjarat, on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Voters showing their inked finger at a polling booth during Gujarat Assembly election in Surat on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
Muslim voters showing their inked fingers at a polling booth during Gujarat assembly election in Surat on Saturday. PTI
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Battle for Gujarat
115-years-old Ajiben arrives to cast her vote in the first phase of Gujarat Assembly election in Rajkot on Saturday. PTI
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In Himachal Pradesh, Congress veteran and six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh won the Arki constituency.
The state has a tradition of a change in the government every election.
Read more: Poll results | EC withdraws notice to Rahul over TV interviews
