Exit poll 2017: BJP to storm back to power in Gujarat, sweep Himachal Pradesh, predicts Today's Chanakya

Pic courtesy: Twitter/@vijayrupanibjp

New Delhi: Exit polls on Thursday predicted a victory for the ruling BJP in Gujarat, giving it a clear majority in the keenly-contested Assembly polls in the state.

Soon after voting ended in the second and final phase of the election, an exit poll gave the BJP 115 of the total 182 seats and the Congress 65.

Another exit poll gave the ruling dispensation 108 seats and 74 to the Opposition Congress.

VMR exit poll predicted 115 seats for the BJP, 64 for the Congress, and the remaining for other parties.

The CVoter exit poll gave the BJP 108 seats and the Congress, 74.

Meanwhile, as per 'Today's Chanakya', the BJP was likely to win 135 seats (plus/minus 11) and the Congress was projected to win 47 seats (plus/minus 11). Others may win three seats (plus/minus 3) in Gujarat.

As for the vote share, the BJP was likely to get 49% (± 3%), Congress+ 38% (± 3%) and 'others' 13% (± 3%) in Gujarat.

On the other hand, 'Today's Chanakya' predicted a clean sweep for BJP in Himachal Pradesh.

It predicted 55 seats for the saffron party (± 7), Congress 13 (± 7) seats and 'others' 0 (± 3) seats.

Notably, Chanakya has consistently been the closest pollster for BJP as its predictions came true in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, and in last assembly polls in UP, where it predicted a landslide victory for the saffron party. 

The Gujarat contest is being seen as a prestige battle for PM Narendra Modi in his home state, where a reinvigorated Congress has sewed up a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC and Dalit leaders in its bid to unseat the BJP in power for over two decades.

In its bid to form a caste bloc against the BJP, the Congress has won over Hardik Patel, Thakor and Mevani, who have emerged as the young turks representing the Patidars, OBCs and Dalits respectively.

Exuding confidence, Rahul Gandhi on the concluding day of the campaign on Tuesday had told reporters that there was "tremendous undercurrent" against the ruling BJP in Gujarat. He had also predicted a 'zabardast' victory for his party.

The first phase of voting for the 182-member Assembly was held on December 9 and covered 89 seats. The counting of votes will be on December 18. 

In the 2012 Gujarat Assembly polls, the BJP had won 115 seats, while the Congress had bagged 61. 

(With PTI inputs)