Himachal will do a Gujarat for BJP, says Rajnath Singh

Giving all credits to Gujarat Chief Minster Narendra Modi for Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) victory in the Assembly polls, BJP president Rajnath Singh today said that his party is confident of sweeping Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls too.

New Delhi, Dec 23 : Giving all credits to Gujarat Chief Minster Narendra Modi for Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the Assembly polls, BJP president Rajnath Singh today said that his party is confident of sweeping Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls too.

"Party has won the Gujarat election due to its ideology and development work done by Modi. Under the leadership of Modi, Gujarat has become a model state for the country," Singh told reporters here.

Singh also maintained that no individual "is bigger than party" and dismissed suggestions of a leadership struggle within the BJP after the party's win in Gujarat.

The BJP is also set to retain or gain slightly its 50 per cent vote share and Congress may get around 42 per cent votes.

Unexpectedly, the BJP, which had swept Central Gujarat last time, has lost ground there. But it has made surprising gains in Saurashtra and South Gujarat that is considered the bastion of Modi's bete noire Keshubhai Patel.

Clearly, Modi has won the Patels and Kolis over by some last minute deft selection of Patel candidates.

The opposition Congress has won seven seats and was ahead in 50 seats in a performance that is marginally better than in the last elections in 2002 when it won 51 seats. 'Others' were ahead in six seats.

ANI