Gujarat Election Results 2017: After nervous start, BJP back in control with 105 seats lead

If early trends are anything to go by, then it appears that the BJP is marching ahead in Gujarat. The saffron party is leading in over 100 seats and Congress is now under 80. But, the results could go either way as numbers are changing very quickly. In the last one hour, BJP made a comeback after falling behind Congress for a brief period of time. However, if the BJP manages to maintain the current lead then it could be said that the saffron party may continue to rule Gujarat. Whatever may be the final results, it seems Prime Minister Narendra Modi is for the first time facing heat in his home-turf Gujarat.

The Election Commission begun the counting of votes polled in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh earlier this month. The counting of votes are underway at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts, amidst tight security. Exit Polls recently showed that ruling BJP will win the Himalayan state with impressive margin and retain its power in Prime Minister Modi's home state.

All eyes are on Gujarat results as the saffron party has been ruling the state for over two decades and the prime minister comes from here and if anything goes against the BJP then it will be seen as a setback ahead of 2019 general election. While BJP did not find any resistance in Himachal, it was faced with tough challenge from Hardik Patel, distressed farmers in Gujarat.

The BJP's main rival party the Congress stitched a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leaders - Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jigesh Mevani - in its bid to remove the saffron party. Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led counter protest against inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani raised his voice against Dalit atrocities. In Himachal, the polls were conducted in single phase last month. In Gujarat, the elections were held in two phases that concluded on December 14. An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded Gujarat. 

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12:45: Senior Congress leader Arjunbhai Devabhai Modhvadiya lost to BJP's Babubhai Bhimabhai Bokhiriya. Modhvadiya could only manage to get 70575 votes compared to Bokhiriya's 72430.

12:35: Congress leader Alpesh Thakor won from Radhanpur.

12:08: BJP has widened the gap with lead on 110 seats. Congress is leading on 70 seats.  

12:05: Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel has won Mehsana with a slim margin of 2200 votes.

11:30: The BJP is leading on 104 seats and Congress on 76 seats. 

11:25: While election commission data doesn't show any victory, reports suggest that Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has won the election with over leading by 25,000 votes from Rajkot West.  

11:20: Independent candidate Jignesh Mevani leading by 10,785 votes in Vadgam.

11:15: Alpesh Thakor is ahead by 4539 votes in Radhanpur.

11:10: Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel is trailing by 2,000 votes in Mehsana.
11:00: The EC data shows that the BJP has secured 49.1 per cent votes while the Congress managed to get 41.5 per cent.

10:20: Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel trails by 2,000 votes in Mehsana.

10:10: BJP is winning Tribal voters.

9:50: BJP crosses halfway mark with 105 seats against Congress' 75.

9:45: Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh of Congress leading in Arki.

9:30: After trailing for a brief time, BJP is leading again in Gujarat. 

9:22: Congress is leading in North Gujarat.

9:20: Congress is leading in Saurashtra.

9:15: What is emerging in Gujarat is good for the country. BJP and RSS tried to create a notion of invincibility of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi: D Raja

9:11: Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil trailing by 1300 votes from Kutch's Mandvi.

8:55: Alpesh Thakor is leading in Radhanpur and Jignesh Mevani is leading in Vadgam.

8:45: The BJP is currently leading in 91 seats and Congress is leading in 56 seats.

8:31: In Himachal, Congress takes lead in 6 seats, BJP goes down to 11 seats from 13.

8:31: Former Congress State President Arjun Modhwadia is trailing.

8:30: Alpesh Thakur and Jignesh Mewani are trailing as of now.

8:26: BJP Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel are leading in their respective constituency.

8:25: The BJP is leading in North Gujarat.

8:20: The Congress is catching up and now leading on 24 seats compared to the BJP's 30 seats. 

8:15: The BJP is leading on 15 seats and the Congress is leading on 4 seats.

Facts from Gujarat
The voter turnout in the second phase of balloting on December 14, for 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 per cent. In the first phase of polls held on December 9 for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 per cent voting was recorded. The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 per cent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 per cent polling was registered.

In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on December 9 and 14. The Election Commission data showed that the tribal-dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 79.15 per cent, while Devbhumi-Dwarka of Saurashtra region recorded the lowest at 59.39 per cent.

The districts which recorded a high turnout are Tapi (78.56 per cent), Banaskantha (75.15) and Sabarkantha (74.97). The districts which saw a low turnout are Amreli (61.29), Bhavnagar (61.56) and Porbandar (61.86).

Out of the total 33 districts, 15 recorded over 70 per cent polling, while 17 others clocked between 60 per cent and 70 per cent. Only Devbhumi Dwarka district registered polling below 60 per cent.