Election results: Modi thanks people, Amit Shah says BJP 'won comfortably'

New Delhi: “We won comfortably, increased our vote share. It was not a close contest at all,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah declared on Monday as the saffron party retained power in Gujarat by winning 99 seats – 16 less than last time (2012).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while congratulating BJP workers for the victory in Gujarat and a clean sweep in Himachal Pradesh in the Assembly elections, also said the results “indicate a strong support for politics of good governance and development”. 

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"I salute the hardworking BJP Karyakartas in these states for their hardwork which has led to these impressive victories," Modi said. He also thanked the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in the party.

Modi promised that that the party will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly.

Shah also expressed his gratitude to the people of Gujarat for giving the BJP another chance to serve them.

"We have once again emerged triumphant. I offer my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Gujarat…that they gave us anther opportunity to serve them," Shah said while addressing the media on Monday evening. 

Under the leadership of Modi, democracy has reached new heights, he said. "This is a victory of development over dynasty and polarisation," he added.

Speaking on the victory in Himachal Pradesh, Shah said the 2/3rd lead in the hill state shows that the people want to join Modi in the journey to development.

Exuding confidence, Shah said the BJP will win in four other states too – Karnataka, MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, where the Assembly election will be held in the coming months.

"The party will get people's support in 2019 general elections as well and will form the government for the second consecutive term," he added.

The BJP fought off a resurgent Congress on Monday to hold on to Gujarat for a record sixth time.

The saffron party's victory margin in Gujarat was much reduced -- less than 100 seats from 115 last time (2012) – as the Congress put up a spirited show with support from traditional BJP voters, Patidars and OBCs. The grand old party bettered its score and was likely to get 77, nearly 16 up from last time.

In Himachal, BJP cruised to a two-third majority win with nearly 45 seats in the 68-constituency Assembly. After five years in opposition in the Assembly, the BJP is set to form the government in the hill state.