Most exit polls predict BJP win in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh

New Delhi, Dec 14: Putting at rest all the speculations most exit polls predicted the foregone conclusion of victory of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2017 Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. The official results will be announced on December 18.

The high profile Gujarat elections have attracted the attention of the entire nation from the day one. The Himachal Pradesh elections were not so high profile affair and people might have lost interest in that small state of the northwest.

However, the exit polls predicted sounding victory for the BJP in Himachal Pradesh with 55 seats out of 68. This is perfectly in line with the polarization of the electorate in the ‘God’s own Land’.

But the Gujarat elections attracted the attention of the entire nation. Conflicting claims were made by the Congress and the BJP about the results. The Congress found itself in a very elated mood with the support of the self-styled Patidar leader Hardik Patel and his two lieutenants Jignesh Mewani and Alpesh Thakor.

Rahul Gandhi, the Congress president single-handedly steered the party campaign targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi all the time. The campaign stooped to such a low during the campaign.

On the other hand, the BJP engaged its top leaders, ministers and chief ministers to woo and win over the confidence of the voters in the state. Frustrating the cast polarization in the state, the BJP took leads in various groups of voters in the state, according to various exit polls.

Except News 24-Chanakya exit poll, all other polls have given 108 to 117 seats to BJP and 68-82 seats to the Congress party. Thus, all the exit polls are one on the defeat of the Congress in Gujarat elections.

News 24-Chanakya exit poll gave BJP the whopping majority of 135-146 seat close to its target of 150 while the Congress party would have to satisfy on 47 seats only. Here are the comparative figures of the different exit polls:

Most exit polls predict more than 100 seats for the BJP in Gujarat, comfortably above the 92-seat majority mark in the 182-seat Assembly. In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is projected to win more than 50 seats, way above the majority mark of 35 in the 68-seat Assembly.

Polling came to an end in Gujarat today evening with nearly 70 percent turnout of voters in the second phase of polling for the 182 assembly seats. The first phase was held on December 9 with 68 percent voter turnout.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, senior BJP Leader Lal Krishna Advani were conspicuous among those who cast their votes today.

The Congress tried to raise controversy over PM’s walk from the polling centre to his car as violation of election code and created a drama of sorts at the Election Commission office.

The Congress has even accused the poll panel of being partial to the BJP, saying it shot off a notice to Rahul Gandhi yesterday but was mum on the PM.