PM Modi flashes victory sign as BJP takes lead in Assembly Polls

New Delhi, December 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi prior to entering Parliament was seen flashing a victory sign, as the BJP looks to sweep the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

BJP has surged ahead of Congress after facing an early hiccup in Gujarat. The BJP is seeking a sixth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback in power after being in the opposition for over two decades.

The results are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as PM Modi had come to power in 2014, based on the Gujarat ‘model of development’.

The voting was held following an acrimonious campaign, where both the main political parties indulged in no-holds- barred attacks on each other. PM Modi led the campaign for the BJP, while Rahul Gandhi was the pivot of the Congress’ electioneering.

Patel led a long agitation of his community for reservation, while Thakor led an counter protest against inclusion of Patidars in the OBC reservation list. Mevani raised his voice against Dalit atrocities.

The influential Patidar community, which accounts for around 12 percent of the state’s population, could prove to be the ‘X factor’ in the polls in which Patel pledged support to the Congress and appealed to people to uproot the BJP this time.

An average 68.41 percent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat. The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 per cent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 percent polling was registered.