Multiple exit poll results released on Monday predicted that the BJP will return for a seventh straight term in Gujarat with a big majority. However, another BJP-ruled state Himachal Pradesh is likely to see a tough contest with one of the pollsters giving the Congress the edge to form the next Government and a couple of others showing BJP retaining the power.
The AAP is not living up to the hype it created, as per the exit polls, which showed it faring badly in both the States.
About half-a-dozen exit polls were unanimous on the BJP sweep in Gujarat, with seats in the range of 117-151.
Except one, other exit polls projected that the long-held tradition of Himachal Pradesh not repeating a party twice in the State will break as they showed the ruling BJP returning to power. However, the India-Today-Axis exit poll predicted that the Congress will gain a majority by bagging a maximum of 40 seats.
The AAP, which had indulged in a high-voltage campaign and projected itself as the principal challenger to the BJP, was shown to bag a maximum of 13 seats in Gujarat and just 1 seat in Himachal Pradesh by different pollsters.
The counting of votes in both States will take place on December 8. Elections for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly took place on November 12, while polling in Gujarat happened in two phases on December 1 and 5.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed over 31 rallies and led three big road shows in Gujarat wrapping up on Friday his hectic campaign for the BJP in the Assembly polls.
The BJP sees the outcome of the Gujarat poll in the PM’s home State a curtain raiser to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls which are barely 16 months away.
The party looks to maintain its uninterrupted winning streak there since 1995 in a triangular contest involving the Congress and the AAP.
One of the roadshows of Modi was cancelled on October 31 in the State due to the Morbi Bridge collapse that claimed 130 lives.
The keenly contested Gujarat poll witnessed Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge throwing “Ravan jibe” at Modi with the latter asking voters to “teach a lesson” to the party which “insulted” Gujarat.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who did not campaign in Himachal addressed two public rallies in Gujarat, breaking away from his “Bharat jodo yatra”.
Most exit polls predicted a big mandate for the BJP in Gujarat in the range of 117-148 seats in the 182-member Assembly, while the Congress was predicted to bag seats in the range of 30-51 seats.
India Today-Axis My India predicted a landslide victory for the BJP in Gujarat, with the saffron party likely to win from 129-151 seats.
It gives the Congress only 16 to 30 and the AAP 9 to 21 seats in Gujarat.
According to the News X-Jan Ki Baat exit poll on Gujarat elections, the BJP was likely to get 117-140 seats, the Congress-NCP 34-51, the AAP 6-13 and others 1-2.
Republic TV P-MARQ predicted 128-148 seats for the BJP, 30-42 for the Congress-NCP, 2-10 for the AAP and 0-3 for others.
TV9 Gujarati forecast that the BJP would get 125-130 seats, the Congress-NCP 40-50, the AAP 3-5 and others 3-7.
For Himachal Pradesh, Aaj Tak-Axis My India predicted a close contest between the Congress and the BJP. It said the BJP would get 24-34 seats and the Congress 30-40 seats.
India TV predicted that the BJP would bag 35-40 seats, the Congress 26-31 and the AAP zero.
News X-Jan Ki Baat survey said the BJP was likely to get 32-40 seats in the hill State, the Congress 27-34 and the AAP zero.
While Republic TV P-MARQ predicted that the BJP would get 34-39, the Congress 28-33 and the AAP 0-1.
Times Now-ETG said the average seats BJP was likely to get was 38 and the Congress 28.
Unlike Gujarat, the Assembly election in Himachal Pradesh was held in a single phase on November 12, while voting for Gujarat was held in two phases on December 1 and December 5.
