Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has secured his second straight win from the Ghatlodia assembly constituency. His Congress rival Amiben Yaknik is second, with AAP candidate Vijay Patel finishing third. The Patidar-dominated constituency has been a BJP stronghold.
Part of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, Ghatlodia has given the state two chief ministers—Bhupendra and Anandiben Patel.
Bhupendra Patel had retained the seat even in 2017, in the midst of the Patidar quota agitation led by Hardik Patel. Ironically, Hardik is in the BJP fold this election.
Bhupendra will continue to be chief minister again after this election. Patel succeeded Vijay Rupani last year to take over the top post in the state. With the saffron party headed towards a massive victory in the state, Bhupendra is set to be sworn in on December 11, according to reports. With a landslide victory, as exit polls predicted, the BJP is set to retain power for a record seventh term in the state.
Banking on the charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed as many as 30 election rallies, the BJP overcame anti-incumbency yet again after being in power for 27 years without losing an election since 1995.
"It is a victory of the party's double-engine development agenda. The massive verdict reflects people's trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. It is a victory of the agenda of development that the party has carried out in the state," Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas.