IndiaToday.in | Edited by Prabhash K Dutta
New Delhi, December 18, 2017 | UPDATED 09:47 IST
Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani was trailing from Rajkot West giving the BJP a big scare. But, he has come back strongly to take a lead of voer 4,000 votes.
After trailing for some time, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is back in lead of over 4000 votes from Rajkot West seat.
Congress candidate Indranil Rajyguru, who was leading at Rajkot West by 6,234, is trailing behind Rupani.
As of the latest round of counting, Rupani was leading by over 4,000 covering of the lost ground.
Rupani's deputy Nitin Patel was also trailing today as officials counted the votes polled in the Assembly elections. Both Rupani and Patel were at the second place in Rajkot West and Mehsana constituencies respectively.
The December 9 and 14 contest was the first election in the state after 
Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014.
Rajkot West is the most high profile seat of the Gujarat Assembly election as Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is facing a tough challenge from Indranil Rajyaguru of the Congress. Hardik Patel has campaigned heavily against the BJP and this is Patel stronghold.
This seat is also significant as Narendra Modi contested from Rajkot West as Gujarat chief minister in 2002. This seat has been with the BJP for past 32 years. CM Rupani had won the seat in the 2014 bypoll.
The Congress has brought in Indranil Rajyaguru from neighbouring Rajkot East to exploit the caste equation in the constituency.
Rajyaguru is a Brahmin. There are around 25,000 Brahmin votes in the constituency of about 3 lakh voters. Patels constitute about 75,000 votes and are understood to be with PAAS leader Hardik Patel.
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