BJP will win 135 to 145 seats in Gujarat elections, declares Hardik Patel

Counting of votes is underway at 37 centers for the Gujarat elections. The fight for 182 seats is triangular. BJP, Aam Aadmi Party and Congress are all eyeing the counting of votes. BJP's Viramgam Assembly seat candidate Hardik Patel has announced that BJP will win between 135 to 145 seats. The young Patidar leader was the most ardent opponent of the BJP in the 2017 assembly elections. But now he has left the Congress and worn saffron. Hardik Patel is contesting against Kuvarji Thakor of the Aam Aadmi Party from the Viramgam assembly seat. And Lakhabhai Bharwad from Congress is challenging. Lakhabhai Bharwad won the 2017 elections by a margin of more than 75 thousand votes.

The counting of ballot papers for the Gujarat Assembly elections began on Thursday at 37 centers amid tight security. For the first half an hour, the counting of votes will be done from the ballot paper. The counting of votes in EVMs will start at 8.30 am. The candidates have reached the police stations along with their supporters and counting agents.

Chief Electoral Officer P. Bharathi said that a total of 3,16,06,968 votes would be counted. Of the total 4,91,35,400 eligible voters, 64.33 percent voted, of whom 1,69,26,152 were male and 1,46,80,371 were female.

P. Bharathi said that there are 182 counting observers, 182 election officers, 494 assistant election officers, 78 additional election officers, and 71 additional election officers electronically transmitted postal ballot system. CCTV cameras have been installed at all the counting centers.

In the 2017 general elections, 2,94,64,326 votes were polled with a voter turnout of 68.39 percent, of which the BJP got 1,47,24,031 (49.05 percent) votes and 99 seats, while the Congress got 1,24,37,661 (41.44 percent) And got 77 seats.