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Gujarat Election News: 'New record...': Rajnath Singh revels in BJP's dominance
Gujarat Election Results 2022 LIVE: Prime minister Narendra Modi's home state voted in two phases - on Dec 1 and 5.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh hailed the Bharatiya Janata Party's dominant performance in the Gujarat Assembly election. The ruling BJP - which demolished the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party en route to a seventh consecutive term - finished with over 150 seats in the 182-member House.
"There is pro-incumbency in Gujarat. We are creating a new record in Gujarat as the people of the state have immense faith in prime minister Narendra Modi," Rajnath Singh said.
The BJP won over 150 seats to set a new state record - beating its own haul of 127 in 2002 and the Congress' 149 set in 1985.
The Congress had to settle for fewer than 20 seats, while the AAP - seen by some as a dark horse after getting 28 per cent vote share in last year's Surat civic polls - won an impressive five seats on its Assembly election debut.
Owaisi's AIMIM had no wins or leads; the Samajwadi Party did have one win
State boss CR Patil declared that Bhupendra Patel will return as chief minister and will be sworn in at 2 pm on Monday.
FULL COVERAGE | 2022 Gujarat Assembly election
Among the big names in the fray in this election were Patel and former Congress leader Hardik Patel, who won from the Viramgam constituency.
Also in the fray was Rivaba Jadeja, the wife of star India cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, who contested from Jamnagar (north) and secured a commanding win.
The BJP was widely expected to return to power in the prime minister's home state, with all exit polls handing the saffron party a big win.
Gujarat witnessed high-profile campaigning from top leaders of the BJP, including Modi and union home minister Amit Shah.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who led the party to victory in the election in his state earlier this year, was also part of the campaign blitzkrieg.
Gujarat voted in two phases - on Dec 1 and 5.
Elections in the state are traditionally a two-way fight between the BJP and the Congress, but the entrance of the Aam Aadmi Party raised hopes of a three-way race for power.
That hope was dented by the exit polls, which handed Arvind Kejriwal's outfit a near-zero return despite aggressive campaigning. The BJP had dismissed the AAP as a potential challenger, insisting the Congress remains its closest rival.
