The BJP today headed for a record sixth straight victory in Gujarat assembly polls, and was set to evict the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, widening the party's grip over the country's politics with general elections only 18 months away.
As the vote counting has almost reached the final line, Goa CM Manohar Parrikar slammed Congress President Rahul Gandhi saying, "In his opening innings he scored zero".
An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat.
Considered as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state and a litmus test for new Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the Gujarat elections are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls.
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While the ruling 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. During the run up to the elections, Congress stitched about a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC, and Dalit leaders - Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jigesh Mevani - in its bid to unseat the BJP.
The state witnessed high-voltage campaign with Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah training guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the polls and (suspended Congress leader) Mani Shankar Aiyar's remarks on Prime Minister Modi. On the other side, Rahul Gandhi put up the face of an aggressive campaigner in the state.
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(With Agency Inputs)
