Gujarat election results 2017: One short of century, BJP wins Gujarat

The BJP on Monday headed for a record sixth straight victory in Gujarat assembly polls tightening the party's grip over the country's politics with general elections only 18 months away.

The BJP called the results a vote for development pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was the tireless star campaigner in both states. The Congress took solace in the fact that it bettered its tally in Gujarat, the home turf of Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

As per Election Commission, the BJP has won 99 seats in two-phase assembly elections in Gujarat .

Key highlights of the battle as it happens today- 

12.02: Lok Sabha adjourned for sometime amid slogan-shouting by opposition, ruling benches over remarks on Manmohan Singh and poll result trends

12.00 pm: Congress's Arjun Modhwadiya loses from Porbandar to BJP's Babubhai Bokhiriya by 1855 votes

11:45 am: It seems to be a see-saw ride for Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia. He is now trailing by 1800 votes from Porbandar 

11:40 am: BJP leading in 101 seats, Congress in 74, Bhartiya Tribal Party on 2, NCP on 1 & Independent candidates on 3 seats.

11:15 am: "The mood of the people of Gujarat will lead Congress to victory, can't comment much on initial trends; let the final results come" says state party in-charge Ashok Gehlot.

11:00 am: "Will form Government in both Himachal and Gujarat with clear majority" says Home Minister Rajnath Singh

#Visuals from Congress office in #Ahmedabad as trends indicate BJP's victory in both Gujarat & Himachal Pradesh #GujaratVerdict pic.twitter.com/VmAe1hHRbI — ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

10:48 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flashes victory sign 

#WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi flashes victory sign as he arrives at the Parliament. #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/Q4PRNjMpoK — ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

10:30 am: BJP leaders react to the results. BJP's Nitinbhai Patel says "BJP is ultimately going to register victory, contrary to early trends BJP is leading almost everywhere now."

10:20 am: EC trends show BJP leading in 98 seats, Congress ahead in 70. NCP ahead in 1 seat

10:05 am: Sensex which had fallen over 800 points due to trends, has now recovered

10:00 am: EC trends for 15 seats shows BJP ahead in 83 seats, Congress in 62

9:55 am: Congress' Shaktisinh Gohil trailing by 1355 votes from Kutch's Mandvi

9:50 am: Saving grace for BJP, gets 100 seats in trends

9:40 am: Arjun Modhwadia is now leading by over 2500 votes in Porbandar

9:30 am: BJP takes a narrow lead, ahead in 89 seats, Congress in 88 seats 

9:20 am: EC trends show BJP leading in 49 seats, Congress ahead in 42. NCP ahead in 1 seat

9:10 am: Congress races ahead, EC shows Congress leading in 18 seats, BJP in 17

9:08 am: Bad news coming for BJP, CM Vijay Rupani is trailing from Rajkot-West

9:05 am: Congress leader Arjun Modhvadia trailing in Porbandar

9:00 am: BJP, Congress neck and neck as per EC trends. While BJP is leading in 7 seats, Congress is leading in 6 seats

8:55 am: EC official leads in 9 seats puts BJP ahead in 6 seats, Congress in 3

8:50 am: As per leads shared by election commission of Round 1, BJP is ahead in 2 seats,  Congress in 2.

EVMs opened by officials at counting centre set up in Ahmedabad's Gujarat College #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/IHGu6wLori — ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

8:45 am: BJP 10 seats short of the halfway mark of 92 as per early trends

8:35 am: Trends for 101 of 182 seats puts BJP in the front seat. BJP ahead in 62 seats, Congress in 38

8:25 am: In 77 of 182 seats, BJP is leading in 45 seats, Congress in 30 

8:25 am: Deputy CM Nitin Patel is leading in early trends from his seat Mehsana

"Tight security arrangements have been made, police personnel adequately stationed across the region" says #Surat police commissioner Satish Kumar Sharma #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/tSHgrUko3d — ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

8:15 am - Trends have started to trickle in. Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani is leading in Rajkot-West seat. 

The importance that the key battle of Gujarat holds can be understood by the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself covered almost 28,000 kms in rallies across the state in the last leg of the elections. For Rahul Gandhi, the election results come just two days after his coronation as Congress President, a win or a loss in the state will hold a huge impact on his tenure as the party chief.

Officials at counting centre set up in Ahmedabad's Gujarat College open ballot boxes as counting of votes begins #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/Jq6NJRkZVc — ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

#Visuals from a strong room in #Ahmedabad, ballot boxes brought in for counting #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/sT6oP9QQzK — ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2017

The election has seen coming together of three young leaders – Patidar leader Hardik Patel, OBC leader Alpesh Thakur and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani – all three with differences in approach but together with an aim to defeat the BJP. They joined hands with the Congress to give a tough fight to the BJP, but will this unison be enough?

Modi's campaign included a recall of what the BJP has done in the state in the past 22 years, attacking Rahul Gandhi over dynasty politics and accusing Congress leaders of conspiring with Pakistan to defeat BJP in the state.

Rahul, on the other hand, launched a full-fledged attack on the BJP accusing it of not focussing on development and polarising state for vote bank politics.

Will Rahul be able to take home a victory for the Congress just two days after taking over as party chief or will Modi-led BJP hold the ground, let's wait and watch.

The counting is being held at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts amid tight security.

Second Phase
Voting	December 12
Counting	December 18
Last date for Nomination	November 27
Last day for Scrutiny	November 28
Last Date for Withdrawal of candidatures	November 30