Gujarat CM credits Modi after BJP sweeps polls, says people voted for PM's leadership, dumped anti-national elements

With the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) set for a landslide victory in Gujarat, chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday (8) credited prime minister Narendra Modi for it and said the people of the state have rejected the anti-national elements in the recently held two-phase assembly election.

Gujarat BJP president C R Paatil said Patel would continue as the state's chief minister and his swearing-in ceremony would be held on Monday (12).

The BJP with a vote share of nearly 54 per cent was ahead in 152 out of the total 182 seats in Gujarat, as per the latest trends, and could surpass its previous best showing of 127 seats in 2002 when Modi was the state's chief minister.

The Congress holds the all-time record of 149 seats that it had won in 1985 under the leadership of Madhavsinh Solanki.

Addressing a press conference here, Patel said, "The people of Gujarat have once again reposed faith in prime minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership. If the masses of Gujarat have elected the BJP, then we have to live up to their expectations.

"The people of Gujarat have rejected the anti-national elements in this election and have voted for the BJP's track record of development in the state," he said.

Paatil, who was also present at the press conference, said hit out at the new poll entrant Aam Aadmi Party for trying to demean the people of Gujarat with "dole" politics.

"The AAP never thought about Gujarati Asmita and was never able to connect with the psyche of the Gujarati people." " All anti-Gujarati forces have been defeated...The Congress must introspect as to why they are losing public support," he said.