Hat-trick for Modi, Congress ousts BJP in HP

BJP leading in 116 seats out of the 181 seats in Gujarat for which counting has begun

The initial trends of counting for the Gujarat assembly elections show the ruling BJP leading in 116 seats out of the 181 seats for which counting has begun. The Congress was leading in 61 seats, NCP in one and GPP in four seats.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi was leading  by over 42,000 votes from nearest rival of the Congress, Shweta Bhatt, wife of suspended IPS officer Snajiv Bhatt. Close aides of Modi Industries Minister Saurabh Patel (from Akota), Revenue minister Anandi Patel (Ghatlodia) and former minister of state for home Amit Shah (Naranpura) were leading in their respective constituencies.

While BJP president R C Faldu from Jamnagar Rural was leading by a narrow margin, his counter part, Arjun Modhwadia from the Congress was also leading by a small margin in Porbander constituency. Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas was trailing in Siddhpur constituency.

Agriculture minister Dilip Sanghani was trailing by 20,000 votes while Keshubhai Patel of the new entrant Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) was leading in Visavadar.

The members of parliaments from the Congress who are contesting state elections were trailing in their respective constituencies. Vitthal Radadiya was trailing in Dhoraji, Soma Patel in Limdi and Kunvarji Bavalia in Botad.