In Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly results and trends available so far indicate that the Congress is set to wrest power from the BJP in Himachal Pradesh while the BJP is going to retain power in Gujarat for the third time in a row.
BJP has conceded defeat in Himachal Pradesh with senior party leader Shanta Kumar saying that the BJP accepts the poll verdict.
Among prominent winners are – Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal both BJP and Himachal Congress President Virbhadra Singh.
Among losers are – former Union Minister Sukh Ram of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat Parivarthan Party General Secretary and former Minister Govardhan Zadafiya.
In Gujarat out of the 124 results available so far, BJP has won 82 seats, Congress 36, GPP two and others four.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has won from Maninagar constituency with a huge margin of 86,373 votes over his nearest rival Shweta Bhatt of Congress.
Amaraiwadi seat has gone in favour of the BJP candidate Hasmukh Bhai Patel by a margin of over 65 thousand votes. In Karanj BJP`s Janak Bhai Kachhadya won by a margin of over 49000 votes.
In Mangrol BJP`s Rajesh Bhai Chudasama has won by margin of over 15 thousand votes. From Taalaja seat BJP`s Bharatiben Shyal won by margin of over 32 thousand votes defeating her Congress rival.
Former Gujarat Home Minister Amit Shah has won with a margin of more than 60,000 votes over his nearest rival Jitubhai Patel of Congress.
From Rajkot South BJP`s Govind patel won by margin of 0ver 28 thousand. From Gariadhar constituency BJP candidate Keshubhai Nakrani has won by over 16 thousand votes.
Congress candidate NathaBhai Bavkudhai has won lathi seat by margin of over 2000 votes. Party has also won Jasdan and Jhalod seats.
Gujarat Parivarthan Party General Secretary and former Minister Gordhan Zadafiya has been defeated to his nearest BJP rival in Gondal seat. BJP`s Jairaj Singh Jadeja has won this seat. Ruling BJP is leading in 107 constituencies while congress in 54 seats. NCP is leading on two seats while JDU at one and GPP in three seats.
In the outgoing Gujarat assembly, BJP had 117 seats while the Congress 59. Congress ally NCP had three seats. JDU had one seat.
In Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has won from Hamirpur constituency by a margin of 9302 votes. Results of seven constituencies in the state have come in. Out of which three seats have gone in favour of Congress, two independents and two to BJP.
The BJP candidate and state General Secretary of the party Rajiv Bindal has defeated his close rival of Congress Kush Parmar from Nahan constituency of Sirmour district by 12 thousand 840. Another BJP candidate from Gobind Singh Takur defeated his close rival Congress candidate Bhuwaneshwar Goud by a margin of 3198 votes. From Paonta Saheb seat of Sirmour district the independent candidate Kirnesh Jung has been declared winner. He defeated his close rival BJP candidate Mr. Sukh Ram by 790 votes who is also a sitting member of the assembly. From Sujanur, the independent candidate Rajender Rana has been declared elected with a margin of 24 thousand 674 votes.
The Congress candidate Kishori Lal has been declared elected from the Baijnath constituency of Kangra district. He defeated BJP candidate Mulk Raj by 6652 votes. The Congress candidate Babbar Thakur defeated BJP candidate Suresh Chandel by a margin of 5 thousand 141. The Congress candidate Khub Ram from Anni constituency of Kullu district has won against the BJP candidate Kishori Lal by a margin of 1662 votes.
In the outgoing Himachal assembly of the 68, BJP had 41, Congress 23 and BSP – one seat. There were three independents in the last assembly.