Gujarat Election Results 2017 LIVE: BJP's Win Shows People Ready for Reforms and Will Embrace Good Performance, Says Modi

Coming to power was no

Not Amit Shah. And certainly not Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Not that the two leaders are inveterate adventurists, but because that is the only way the duo have conducted their politics, in Gujarat and later in Delhi.

Vadnagar is divided among two Assembly constituencies in Mehsana district - Kheralu and Unjha. While BJP candidate Shankarji Dhabi won the Kheralu seat by polling 49,241 votes, Lalludas Patel ceded the bastion of Unjha to Congress candidate Dwarkadas Patel, who polled 74,438 votes.

Narendra Modi ends his speech with the slogan of “jeetega bhai jeetega, vikas hi jeetega”. 

“This is not an ordinary victory. It's special. Some people can't digest BJP victory, don't waste your time on them. Focus on New India by 2022,” says the PM. 

In a message to Gujaratis, the PM says that 30 years ago, the society was divided because of poison of casteism. "It took 30 years of efforts by workers like me that development because the focus of Gujarat. But some people tried to again sow seeds of casteism in the past few months. People of Gujarat must be aware going onwards. Despite their support, I am asking Gujarati brothers and sisters to forget whatever happened during elections and unite again," says Modi. 

“When India is voting for development election after election, and we have a government which means well and has courage to take decisions, which believes in collective leadership, which believes in Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas... then take today's verdict is another stamp by people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh,” the PM says. 

Modi continues his attack on the Congress, saying there were people who would like to see BJP lose, but if a party keeps winning election after election, then they must recognise what people of India want. “The truth is that since 2014 Lok Sabha election, this country is hungry for development. Whether you like BJP or not, no one will be allowed to derail India's development,” says Modi. 

People of Gujarat were being targeted from all side. Hidden forces were working for Congress. They were plotting to somehow remove Modi's party. They even mocked Vikas. India will never accept it, says Modi.

The Prime Minister says that the Gujarat results are a source of double happiness for him personally as many people had raised doubts about the BJP’s performance in Gujarat after he left the state to become the PM but the state leadership and people of Gujarat have proved everyone wrong. 

“In 1995 BJP contested alone in Gujarat and got 121 seats then. In 1998, BJP won again. We won in 2002, 2007, 2012, won every Lok Sabha and local body elections. This is on the back of development,” says Modi.

The common man of India is progressive and wants progressive policies. Era of 'Jaisa Hai, Chalega' is gone, says Modi.  “In the history of BJP it’s an unprecedented election. Political parties nowadays find it difficult to win after 5 years. But Gujarat is an exception. Gujarat wins every election since past 22 years,” he says. 

The election results, Modi says, shows that the country is ready for reform like GST and demonetisation. The nation has rallied behind the decisions and shown that it knows more about reforms than a few elites sitting in Delhi, says the Prime Minister.

Modi says that the verdict in the two states is a backing for GST. “People were raising apprehensions about GST and news was spread that BJP would not do well but we got a historic mandate,” he says. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters in Delhi to mark the poll victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. He starts off by thanking the people of the two states for choosing the path of development.

Election Commission of India was approached for counting at two booths in different constituencies. ECI has given instructions to conduct counting through VVPAT in those two particular booths: BB Swain, Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat

The discontent and fatigue with the BJP was palpable in Gujarat. But the Congress failed to turn it into enough votes, despite a temple run by its young president.

The BJP's vote share has slumped sharply since the 2014 Lok Sabha polls when it clocked nearly 60 per cent votes, while that of Congress has improved significantly - still not enough for the Rahul Gandhi-led party to win sufficient number of seats. As per the results declared today by the Election Commission, the BJP has got close to 49.1 per cent votes, down from nearly 60 per cent in 2014 but somewhat higher than nearly 48 per cent it polled in the 2012 state assembly polls. On the other hand, Congress' vote share has risen to about 41.4 per cent this time - up from 33 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and also higher than around 39 per cent in the 2012 assembly polls. The difference in vote share between the two parties works out to be around 7.7 per cent

Modi may become more dictatorial now: CPI 

With the BJP looking set to win Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may become "more dictatorial", CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said today. The Left leader said he now expected the BJP to pursue the "Hindutva policies" more vigorously. "Narendra Modi may become more dictatorial. It is not a positive sign for Indian democracy," Reddy said. The CPI leader said although the Congress improved its tally in Gujarat, the ruling party (BJP) could overcome "anti-incumbency", and that it was a pity that "secular forces" could not defeat the saffron party.

Narendra Modiji, I am also a son of Gujarat, so have a big heart even if you don’t have a 56-inch chest. Attacks on winning candidates was your idea or Amit Shah’s as it is not part of Gujarat’s tradition: Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani tweeted after winning from Vadgam constituency.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the results of the Gujarat Assembly polls would not have any impact on the Assembly election in the state, which is due early next year. "The election results of one state will not have an effect on the election of another state. The issues will be different. Whatever may the Gujarat poll results be, it will have no impact on Karnataka," he told reporters at Yadgir in the northern parts of the state.

TN CM, DMK congratulate BJP for poll victories

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EK Palaniswami and opposition leader M K Stalin today congratulated the BJP as it headed for victory in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. Palaniswami called Prime Minister Narendra Modi up to felicitate him for the BJP's show in the two states, an official release said. DMK working President M K Stalin said, "I congratulate the BJP for winning the polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh." The poll results indicated that all secular parties should come together to "protect secularism and democracy", he told reporters outside the DMK office.

OBC leader Alpesh Thakor has won from Radhanpur, one of the largest constituencies in Gujarat. The Congress had recruited Thakor ahead of the polls to try and win the support of the state's 30 per cent OBCs or Other Backward Castes.

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani flashed the victory sign as BJP leads in Gujarat elections. At a press conference, he gave assurance that BJP will work towards what the people of the state want. 

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala says that Congress may not form a government in Gujarat, but it has won the hearts of the people of the state. “Congress’ performance in Gujarat is satisfactory.  Two independents who won support Congress and so does the NCP, so the actual Congress+ tally right now is 84 and BJP is 99,” he says. 

Congress leader Paresh Dhanani today retained the Amreli assembly constituency by defeating his nearest rival Bavkubhai Undhad of the BJP by a margin of 12,029 seats. Dhanani won the seat for a third time and second time in a row. Amreli, a constituency dominated by cotton growers, is facing an agrarian crisis and this issue figured during the poll campaigning.

BJP’s Jitu Vaghani won the prestige battle at Bhavnagar (West), defeating Congress stalwart Shaktisinh Gohil by close to 27,000 votes. 

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called the Gujarat election results a face-saving win for the BJP. “I congratulate Gujarat voters for their very balanced verdict at this hour. It is a temporary and face-saving win, but it shows a moral defeat for the BJP. Gujarat voted against atrocities, anxiety and injustice caused to the common people. Gujarat belled the cat for 2019,” she tweeted. 

Vadnagar is divided among two Assembly constituencies in Mehsana district - Kheralu and Unjha. While BJP candidate Shankarji Dhabi won the Kheralu seat by polling 49,241 votes, Lalludas Patel ceded the bastion of Unjha to Congress candidate Dwarkadas Patel, who polled 74,438 votes.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted congratulations to the BJP for winning the election in both states, but with a jibe. He wrote that he was proud of the party’s performance as they fought with decency and courage.