BJP President Amit Shah arrives at the party HQ in Delhi as workers celebrate its lead in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

The BJP today headed for a record sixth straight victory in Gujarat assembly polls, and was set to evict the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, tightening the party's grip over the country's politics with general elections only 18 months away.

"Jo jeeta wohi Sikandar (whoever wins is the king), said Union minister Smriti Irani, when asked if the Congress gave it a tough fight. The BJP called the results a vote for development pushed by Prime Minister Narendera 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. Still, when the final results are in later today, it will be clear that another Congress-ruled state has slipped from its grasp into BJP control. It now rules only Karnataka and Punjab among the major states.

Leads and wins
Gujarat
BJP Leads: 54, Wins: 44
Congress: Leads 42, Wins 36
Others: Leads 4, Wins 2

Himachal Pradesh
BJP: Leads 35, Wins 9
Congress: Leads: 16-, Wins 5
Others: Leads 2, Wins 1