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Agencies

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory on Monday in two state elections, including a closely-fought race in his stronghold of Gujarat, where the charismatic leader fronted the campaign.
Modi thanked voters in the state, his home in India’s west, and the northern Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, for backing the ruling Hindu national party in the local polls.
“I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP,” Modi posted on his official Twitter account, using the initials of his Bharatiya Janata Party.
“I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly,” he tweeted.

Election results in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh indicate a strong support for politics of good governance and development. I salute the hardworking BJP Karyakartas in these states for their hardwork which has led to these impressive victories.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 18, 2017

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I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP. I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 18, 2017

<![CDATA[// ><!]]>

BJP chief Amit Shah also called victory for the ruling party, saying Modi’s development agenda had prevailed over “family politics”, a reference to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that leads the main opposition Congress party.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who at the weekend replaced his mother Sonia at the helm of the main opposition party, conceded defeat in Gujarat and congratulated the BJP on its win.
The ruling party was also poised to wrest control of Himachal Pradesh from Congress, extending BJP control to 19 of India’s 29 states and further bolstering Modi before a general election in 2019.
Congress, which has ruled India for much of its history but was thumped by Modi’s BJP in the 2014 national poll, now holds just four states.
As counting continued the election commission said the BJP was on track to win 99 seats in the 182-seat Gujarat parliament as of early evening.

That result would return the BJP to power for a sixth consecutive term in the state but would slash the number of seats from 115 in the last election.
Some experts had forecast a backlash against Modi over unpopular economic reforms that hit businesses hard, including a controversial ban on higher-value banknotes and the introduction of a national goods and services tax.
“The (BJP) have certainly lost a lot of ground, but Congress should have actually won this election, given the anger in the state against the BJP,” political commentator Manisha Priyam said.
The election in Gujarat was bitterly fought, with campaigning marked by some of the sharpest verbal duels seen in recent Indian elections.
Modi implied at one point, without presenting any evidence, that the Congress party may have been conniving with Pakistan to affect the voting. The allegation was angrily denied by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, a Congress party leader.
Modi’s star power was undiminished at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, where supporters danced, threw rose petals and chanted “Long live Modi!” as the results trickled in.
“This was expected … It is a tremendous victory and Modi has come out as the single most popular leader,” party supporter Sandeep Kapoor told AFP.
India’s Sensex plunged in opening trade Monday but recovered throughout the day as results turned in favour of the BJP.
Additional reporting by Associated Press

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Narendra Modi

Modi declares victory for ruling party in India’s state elections

The BJP has held Gujarat for about two decades with Modi at the helm for more than 12 years and he used his stewardship of the state as a launch pad for his national campaign in 2014.

A Supporter of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looks on as he celebrates outside the party headquarters in New Delhi, with early counting of votes indicating a comfortable win for them in the key states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Photo: AFP

Rahul Gandhi takes over as head of India’s Congress party

Newly elected president of the Congress party Rahul Gandhi (centre). Photo: AFP

Newly elected President of the Indian National Congress party Rahul Gandhi gestures while speaking during a ceremony at the party headquarters in New Delhi on December 16, 2017. India's Rahul Gandhi took over on December 16 as President of the main opposition Congress party after years of speculation about the scion of the dynasty that has ruled the country for much of its independent history. Gandhi was handed a certificate of election in front of his mother Sonia Gandhi, becoming the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to become Congress president. / AFP PHOTO / Prakash SINGH

FILE - In this Nov. 27, 2017, file photo, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during an election campaign rally at Jasdan in Gujarat, India. Against the backdrop of an increasingly personal and bitterly fought local election, India is witnessing the unusual spectacle of Modi locked in a bitter verbal duel with his predecessor, accusing the opposition of holding secret meetings with officials from archrival Pakistan to impact the polls. The unsubstantiated allegations have prompted a sharply worded response from former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File)

Newly elected President of the Indian National Congress party Rahul Gandhi (C) gestures next her mother and former party President Sonia Gandhi during a ceremony at congress headquarters in New Delhi on December 16, 2017. India's Rahul Gandhi took over on December 16 as President of the main opposition Congress party after years of speculation about the scion of the dynasty that has ruled the country for much of its independent history. Gandhi was handed a certificate of election in front of his mother Sonia Gandhi, becoming the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to become Congress president. / AFP PHOTO / Prakash SINGH

epa05008438 Indian Hindu Holy men shout slogans as they protest against the Leela Palace hotel, alleged of serving cow meat, in New Delhi, India, 03 November 2015. According to the news reports, the hotel is allegedly serving cow meat to their customers. Delhi are among the Indian states where the slaughter of cows is banned, as Hindus who form over 80 per cent of population consider the cow to be a sacred animal. EPA/RAJAT GUPTA

Modi is facing a perfect storm in Gujarat. Can he weather it?

Narendra Modi addresses supporters at a campaign rally in Ahmadabad, Gujarat’s largest city. Photo: Reuters

A young Bharatiya Janata Party supporter. Photo: AFP

Indian beautician Sejal Rao (R) gives finishing touches as she paints 'Electronic Voting Machine' (EVM) on the hair of a girl ahead of Gujarat's legislative assembly election, in Ahmedabad on December 7, 2017. Gujarat goes to polls in two phases December 9 and 14. / AFP PHOTO / SAM PANTHAKY

Photo: Debasish Roy Chowdhury

Jignesh Mevani. Photo Twitter

The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel (C) speaks during a press conference in Ahmedabad on November 22, 2017. Hardik Patel, the PAAS leader, announced his support to the Indian National Congress party for the forthcoming Gujarat election. / AFP PHOTO / SAM PANTHAKY

Vice President of the Indian National Congress party Rahul Gandhi (C/R), shakes hands to supporters during a political rally at Chilloda village, some 40 kms from Ahmedabad on November 11, 2017. Rahul Gandhi is on a three day tour to north Gujarat to promote the Congress Party for the forthcoming Vidhansabha elections in Gujarat. / AFP PHOTO / SAM PANTHAKY

This picture taken on December 3, 2017 shows a supporter of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gesturing as she participates in a rally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Not pictured), at Surendranagar, some 130 km from Ahmedabad. India's Narendra Modi hopes to fight off a stiff challenge from opposition Congress party's Rahul Gandhi as his western Gujarat homestate votes Saturday after a dirty, no-holds barred campaign of sex tapes, religious barbs and name-calling. / AFP PHOTO / SAM PANTHAKY / TO GO WITH 'INDIA-ELECTION-GUJARAT-MODI',ADVANCER BY BHUVAN BAGGA

Indian Other Backward Class (OBC) and Ekta Manch political organisation leader Alpesh Thakor (C) speaks to supporters, as police block demonstrators from protesting at the Tata Nano production plant in Sanand Taluka, some 50 kms from Ahmedabad, on February 23, 2017. India police have prevented protesters from demonstrating at the Tata Nano production plant, during a rally by Indian Other Backward Class (OBC) and Ekta Manch political organisation leader Alpesh Thakor and supporters, who accuse big business owners of not employing enough local youths. / AFP PHOTO / SAM PANTHAKY

Members of the OBC Ekta Manch participate in a protest rally to waive the debt of farmers and against the increase of the cost for milk producers, in Ahmedabad on July 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SAM PANTHAKY

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The BJP has held Gujarat for about two decades with Modi at the helm for more than 12 years and he used his stewardship of the state as a launch pad for his national campaign in 2014.


India