Exit polls predict BJP landslide in Gujarat, close contest in Himachal Pradesh

NEW DELHI: The BJP is all set for a record seventh consecutive win in Gujarat, while it may be a close contest between the saffron party and the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, according to exit poll predictions.
The exit polls predict a massive victory for the BJP in Gujarat, where it is likely to surpass its previous best performance of 127 seats in the state.
In Himachal, the saffron party and the Congress may be locked in a close contest. While most exit polls are predicting a BJP victory in the state, Axis-My India exit poll shows the Congress ahead in the hill state.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which had carried out a high-pitch campaign in Gujarat led by its leader Arvind Kejriwal, will make marginal gains in the state but will fall way short of its tall claims of upsetting the BJP's apple cart.
The exit polls predict that AAP may just about manage to touch the double figure mark in the state.
Record win for BJP in Gujarat
In Gujarat, the ruling BJP is all set to script another historic win. Today's predictions, if proved correct on December 8, may reverse the trend of party's declining seat share since the last four elections.
The poll of exit polls predict 131 seats for the BJP and 41 seats for the Congress. The AAP may manage only around 7 seats.
The BJP has been ruling the state since 1995 and registered its best score in 2002 when it won 127 seats. However, since then the party's seat share has been on the decline. In 2017, the BJP was restricted to 99 seats while the Congress managed 77. However, in the last five years several Congress MLAs left the party to join the BJP.
In the run up to the 2022 assembly elections, the BJP ran a very strong campaign in Gujarat led by PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. PM Modi carried out a record 50-km road show in Ahmedabad besides holding several rallies across the state. Amit Shah, as always, was the master strategist for the BJP.
The Congress led a very muted campaign in the state and the predictions may not surprise the party. Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra, campaigned in the state for only one day. The party though claims that its campaign was low-key and door-to-door.
Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP could take solace in the strong opening it has managed in the state.
Close contest in Himachal Pradesh
In Himachal Pradesh, the exit polls predict a close contest between the BJP and the Congress.
The poll of exit polls predicts 35 seats for the BJP, which is just the halfway mark in the assembly. The Congress will manage to win only 29 seats, the exit polls predict.
However, India Today- Axis-My India exit poll predicts 35 seats for the Congress and 29 for the BJP in the state.

If the BJP manages to win the state, it will disappoint the Congress, as it will be the third state where the grand old party will fail to capitalise on anti-incumbency and benefit from the trend of alternating governments.
The Congress had earlier failed to capture power in Kerala, where the CPM retained power bucking the trend of alternative governments and in Uttarakhand where the BJP won a second consecutive term.
Congress campaign in the state was led by Priyanka Gandhi, who would hope for a good showing in the state after the disastrous outcome in Uttar Pradesh where the grand old party under her registered one of its worst performances ever.
Rahul Gandhi ironically did not hold even a single rally in the state.