Modi flashes victory sign at Parliament as BJP wins Gujarat, Himachal

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped out of his car, greeted the media with a 'namastey' and flashed a victory sign, while entering Parliament, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looked comfortably placed to win the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.

The BJP is set to form its sixth government in Gujarat and at the time of filing this report, the party looked like it would get around 100 seats, while Congress 80. The BJP's margin of victory -- 92 required to form the government -- this time is decidedly slimmer.

In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP is looking at a two-third majority in the 68-seat house.

The BJP is now poised to form government in both the states, even as early trends showed Congress giving a tough fight in Gujarat.

A final announcement from the Election Commission is awaited, as the counting of votes is underway.

The Assembly polls in the two states, especially Gujarat, were a battle of honour and prestige for the BJP and Congress and they, hence, left no stone unturned to establish their own supremacy in the states.

The counting of votes for 68 Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh and 182 constituencies in Gujarat began this morning.

Himachal Pradesh went to polls on November 9, while elections were held in two phases in Gujarat on December 9 and 14.