Gujarat Assembly election result update at 9am: After initial BJP surge, Congress overtakes party
The BJP was surging ahead in early trends in the Gujarat assembly election but the Congress spectacularly overtook the party later in the day.
In the high-stakes Gujarat Assembly election battle, early postal ballot trends award the edge to the saffron brigade, with the BJP taking a massive lead over the Congress.
However, the Congress made a spectacular comeback, overtaking the ruling party in Gujarat, leaving the latest tally at 81-84, for BJP, Congress, respectively, as of last updating this report.
But these the early trends based on the counting of postal ballots. The leads for 119 seats have come till now. These trends may change as the counting of EVMs begin in a short while from now.
LIVE COVERAGE | Gujarat election results 2017
This election has Prime Minister Narendra Modi's prestige at stake as Rahul Gandhi's presence, campaign and alliances in Gujarat makes it look like Modi-Shah won't have it easy in their home state.
The counting of votes for the Gujarat Assembly Election result 2017 are underway at 37 centres across the state's 33 districts, amid tight security.
The electioneering spearheaded by PM Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi saw a barrage of jibes and satirical comments flying to and fro. While the Congress with a renewed hope to resuscitate its lost ground cashed on the anti-incumbency factor, the BJP reinstated its aspirations for development and honouring the 'Gujarat ni Asmita' or pride of the Gujarati identity.
Gujarat Assembly election results 2017 are expected to have a bearing on the 2019 parliamentary polls also as Modi had come to power in 2014 based on the 'Gujarat model of development'.
An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded in the two-phase Assembly elections in Gujarat. According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, the voter turnout in the second phase of balloting on December 14, for 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat, stood at 69.99 per cent.
In the first phase of polls held on December 9 for 89 seats in Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat, 66.75 per cent voting was recorded. The total voter turnout this time has seen a dip of 2.91 per cent, as compared to the 2012 polls when 71.32 per cent polling was registered.
In terms of numbers, of the total 4.35 crore registered voters, 2.97 crore exercised their right to franchise in the elections held on December 9 and 14.
Results of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections are being widely considered as the first test of Gandhi, the new Congress president.