Assembly polls: Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are expecting to get their assembly polls declared today as BJP expects to reinforce its grip in the former, its stronghold, and a successive rule in the latter.
In Himachal Pradesh, the trend was anti-incumbency since 1985, but exit polls have forecast a slight edge towards BJP. The counting here started at 8 am in 68 centres.
In Gujarat, the counting started at 8 am at 37 centres; the BJP is expecting a seventh straight term. Here, when Congress battles to become the main Opposition party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has emerged as a strong challenger to the incumbent BJP. However, exit polls have predicted sweeping victory for the saffron party, such predictions do not always end up true. When BJP won 99 seats in the 2017 elections here, Congress won 77.
In Himachal Pradesh, there was a 75 per cent voter turnout in the polls held on November 12 for 68 Assembly constituencies, and 412 candidates competed here. In Gujarat, voter turnout was 66.38 per cent during the elections held on December 1 and 5.
Being Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state and a stronghold of the BJP, Gujarat is a big arena with many pivotal candidates competing. Incumbent Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, AAP's CM candidate Isudan Gadhvi, cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's wife Rivaba Jadeja are there along with Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and finally, Jignesh Mevani.