BJP storms back to power in Gujarat with massive record-breaking mandate

The BJP stormed back to power in Gujarat with its biggest ever mandate, smashing all previous records of electoral performance as the results of the Assembly elections in the state were declared on Thursday.

The BJP, which has not lost an election in Gujarat since 1995, has won 153 seats and is leading in three more of the 182 assembly seats in the state.

The BJP has not only broken its own record of 127 seats won in the 2002 Assembly elections seats but has also shattered the historic record of the Gujarat Assembly elections set in 1985 by the Congress’s Madhav Singh Solanki government which had won 149 seats.

Party             Seats won

BJP                    156

Congress             17

AAP                       5

Others                   4

The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 27 years but has never won an election with such a massive mandate.

The new chief minister of Gujarat will be sworn in on December 12 at 2 pm, state BJP chief CR Paatil said on Thursday as the party swept the Assembly polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take part in the oath-taking ceremony. Bhupendra Patel will take oath as chief minister of Gujarat for the second time.

“Gujarat CM will take oath at 2 pm on 12th December. PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take part in the oath ceremony,” CR Paatil said while addressing a joint press conference with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel after the trends suggested BJP’s majority in the state, empowering the party to form the government for the seventh time in the state.

“Bhupendra Patel will be the chief minister again,” he confirmed.

Patel said that the BJP humbly accepts the mandate of the people of Gujarat, while also reassuring the public of the party’s commitment towards public service.

“The results of Gujarat elections are quite clear. People have made up their minds to further continue with the journey of development in Gujarat. We humbly accept the mandate of the people. Every worker of BJP is committed to public service,” the Chief Minister said.

According to the latest trends by the Election Commission till 2 pm, the BJP has won 11 seats so far and is leading in 159 seats, which if solidifies, will be a historic victory for the party.

Celebrations broke out in Gandhinagar as the BJP nears a record-breaking victory in Gujarat Assembly polls.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP chief CR Paatil exchanged sweets while celebrating the party’s victory. The party workers played musical instruments and danced to celebrate the nearing victory.

The counting of votes for the Gujarat Assembly elections began on Thursday at 8 am.

Assembly elections in Gujarat were held in two phases on December 1 and 5 respectively. The voter turnout in Gujarat by the end of the second phase of the Gujarat elections was recorded at 59.11 per cent.

BJP has been in power in Gujarat for 27 years with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remaining in the Chief Minister’s post for the longest time before becoming the Prime Minister.

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