The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set for a record win in Gujarat by winning 95 seats and leading in 59 seats. Congress has won 7 seats and leading in 10 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has won 4 seats and leading in one more seat. Though it trails behind the BJP and the Congress, the AAP has dragged the Congress’ vote share to below 30 per cent for the first time in decades.
In Himachal Pradesh Congress is expected to dislodge BJP from power, thus giving a much-needed win for the deflated party. Cong has won 29 seats and leading in 10 seats. Independents have won 3 seats there.
It was a battle between tradition and ambition in Himachal. Traditionally, Himachal has never repeated a government in power in the last 37 years. The pragmatic Himachali voter has always thought it best not to let any party get too comfortable in the seat. Even in the run-up to these elections, this sentiment was evident on the ground. But this time, equally strong was the BJP’s call for changing the tradition.
But many thought the BJP had a real chance, given that the Congress had lost its mascot, six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh in 2021, and that it was in shambles at the Centre. The BJP also had a trump card in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose popularity seemed to cut across party lines in the state.
What the party did not account for was the full-scale rebellion that ensued. Many of the rebels could not be pacified and this is believed to have eventually cost the party at least 10-odd seats.
Meanwhile, state BJP president C R Paatil said that Bhupendra Patel will be sworn in as next Chief Minister of Gujarat. The swearing in ceremony will be held at Helipad ground inside New Secretariat complex in the state capital on December 12 and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
