Rajasthan election result: BJP takes massive lead with 162 seats

4. 46 pm: BJP takes massive lead in Rajasthan with 162 seats

There are huge celebrations in Rajasthan. BJP leaders are bursting crackers outside their offices.

BJP has win 162 seats out of 199 seats. Congress has won 21 seats. BSP has won 3 seats. The National People’s party has won 4 seats. Other parties have a total of 9 seats.

The BJP’s strong return in the State and the defeat of Congress was beyond the expectation of political observers and defied all political calculations.

Vasundhara Raje, who failed five years ago on account of infighting in BJP, reinvented herself and galvanised the cadre to spearhead her party’s spectacular comeback to power in Rajasthan.

3. 57 pm: BJP sweeps Rajasthan with 151 seats

The BJP has won 151 seats while the Congress has won only 18 seats in Rajasthan.

3. 05 pm: Congress to taste its worst ever loss in Rajasthan?

With its top leaders trailing and set to lose as counting of votes progressed Sunday, the Congress appears on the verge of recording one of its worst defeats in Rajasthan.

The party had won 96 seats in 2008.

Poll result trends showed Sunday that the Congress is likely to finish with 27 to 30 seats out of the 199 seats for which polling was held.

Prominent Congress leaders who lost or are trailing include big names like Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, urban development minister in the Ashok Gehlot government, A.A. Khan, medical and health minister, Virendra Beniwal, transport minister, Bina Kak, tourism minister, Deependra Singh Shekhawat, assembly speaker and Rajendra Pareek, industries minister. PWD Minister Bharat Singh and Revenue Minister Hemaram Chaudhary are also trailing.

2. 38 pm: It’s a big win for BJP in Rajasthan

The BJP is winning big in Rajasthan. The party has already got 107 seats, while the Congress has a mere 12 seats.

Meanwhile, Dr Chandrabhan Singh, President of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee has submitted his resignation to the congress party president Sonia Gandhi.

1. 20 pm: BJP gets 73 seats

In Rajasthan, BJP has won 73 seats, Congress has won 9, others 5

BJP candidate Vasudev Devnani wins Ajmer (North) seat of Ajmer district by defeating his nearest rival of Congress Gopal by a margin of 20479 votes.

BJP candidate Gopi Chand Meena wins Aspur(ST) seat of Dungarpur district by defeating his nearest rival of Congress Raiya Meena by a margin of 58732 votes.

BJP candidate Suryakanta Vyas wins Soorsagar seat of Jodhpur district by defeating her nearest rival of Congress Jai Phukan by a margin of 19,461 votes.

BJP candidate Babu Ram Jat wins Saharada seat of Bhilwara district by defeating his nearest rival of Congress Kailash Trivedi by a margin of 20,756 votes.

BJP candidate Kalulal Gurjar wins Mandal seat of Bhilwara district by defeating his nearest rival of Congress Rampal Sharma by a margin of 41,434 votes.

BJP candidate Shimla Bawri wins Anupgarh(SC) seat of Ganganagar district by defeating her nearest rival Congress Shimla Devi Nayak by a margin of 11,146 votes.

BJP candidate Otaram wins Sirohi seat of Sirohi district by defeating his nearest rival of Congress Sanyam Lodha by a margin of 10539 votes.

1.10 pm: No one can stop Vasundhara Raje, says BJP leader

In Rajasthan, BJP is heading towards a historic win. BJP has won 36  seats, while Congress has won only 4.

In response to the massive win, a BJP leader told ETV Rajasthan, “Who can stop Vasundhara Raje to become the state chief minister now?”

12: 38 pm: Blow to Congress; Shanti Dhariwal loses to Prahalad Gunjal

In Kota (North), Gehlot’s crisis manager and UDH minister, Shanti Dhariwal, has lost to BJP leader Prahalad Gunjal. This comes as a big disappointment to Congress as Dhariwal was expected to garner a lot of votes for the party. In fact, Dhariwal was the man behind the Congress’ poll manifesto in the state.

The BJP has now won 19 seats, while Congress has won only 1.

12. 19 pm: Modi hails Vasundhara Raje

The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Sunday hailed Rajasthan’s Vasundhara Raje for taking the party to victory in her state.

Meanwhile, BJP has won 11 seats, Congress wins 1.

12. 00 pm: BJP wins 8 seats

BJP has won 8 seats in Rajasthan while Congress is yet to make a debut.

11. 48 am: Disappointed Ashok Gehlot takes to Twitter to blame BJP for spreading lies

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is clearly disappointed after a massive loss in the state.

Gehlot claimed that BJP has been spreading lies about Congress in their election rallies. “They have been spreading lies about our government’s policies,” he tweeted.

He also said that despite the loss, the Congress party will continue to work for the welfare of the people in Rajasthan.

Lalit Modi back in game with Raje victory?

Lalit Modi’s rise in the Board of Control for Cricket in India is the stuff of legend. His fall is the stuff of legend too. In both cases, the swiftness with which he rose and fell was extraordinary.

With Vasundhara Raje’s victory, is Lalit Modi back in the game? Read it here. 10. 58 am: Congress unable to highlight development in Rajasthan, says GehlotConceding defeat, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the Congress party has been unsuccessful in highlighting development.“We campaigned on basis of development, made attempt to win on that basis, they lied to the people on several occasions,” Gehlot told reporters.“The manner in which some political groups plan to move ahead is dangerous for the nation,” Gehlot added.10. 45 am: SUVs, stay arrangements ready for new MLAs

Forty-two SUVs have been kept ready for new ministers in Rajasthan while accommodation arrangements for 199 MLAs have also been made, a senior official said today.

“We have made temporary arrangements for the stay of MLAs in Circuit House, Officers’ Training School, Panchayati Raj Bhawan and Indira Gandhi Canal Board guest house here. Rooms in Secretariat and vehicles for the ministers are also ready,” Principal Secretary GAD Rakesh Srivastava told a news agency.

The venue for oath-taking of the new chief minister will be decided today, he said. “The party, which wins the elections, discusses with the administration the venue for oath-taking of the chief minister,” he said.

Srivastava said for the new ministers, 42 Tata Safari SUVs have been kept ready for use.

Update: NOTA leads in one constituency in Dhod (Sikar) in Rajasthan

10. 29 am: We were sure of winning, says Vasundhara Raje

BJP leader Vasundhara Raje is leading by 4,000 votes in Jhalapatan.

Raje who is likely to become the next Rajasthan Chief Minister thanked the voters. “We were sure of the win, I thank the voters for their massive support,” she said. Raje said that the BJP win in Rajasthan is also because of the Modi magic.

“People of Rajasthan are tired of the incumbent government. Narendra Modi is a big factor too–Modi has shown what he can do in Gujarat. People believe in him, they believe that Rajasthan can also become Gujarat,” Raje told NDTV.

“We want to put Rajasthan on its feet again,” she added.

In fact, “Modi magic” seems to have occupied everyone’s mind. Here’s what Twitter is saying:

BJP is now leading in 140 seats, Congress is 26.

10. 19 am: Biggest loss ever for Congress?

Rajasthan seems to be the biggest loss for the Congress party. Out of 180 seat results until now, BJP is leading in 137 seats. Congress is leading in just 26. While the BSP and other independent parties are leading in 19 seats.

Congress’ Zahida Khan was leading by a margin of 5,342 votes over her nearest rival of BJP Kunwar Jagat Singh, son of Natwar Singh, from Kaman constituency of Bharatpur district. Congress’ ministers Mahendra Jeet Singh, Hemaram Choudhary, and Brij Kishore Sharma were leading in Bagidora, Gudhamalani, and Hawamahal Constituencies respectively against their BJP rivals.

10. 07 am: It’s not the Modi factor, says Abhishek Manu Singhvi

There’s no doubt that BJP is winning Rajasthan by a huge margin. BJP is leading in 131 seats now, Congress in 28.

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told CNN-IBN, that Rajasthan is a classic anti-incumbency structured state. “But that’s not the only reason we are not doing well,” he said.

Singhvi said that though the Congress have performed badly in Rajasthan, but it is not the Modi effect. “It’s Modi failure,” he told reporters.

10. 00 am: Ashok Gehlot lead in his Sardarpura constituency

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is leading in his Sardarpura constituency of Jodhpur district by a margin of 4,619 votes against his BJP rival Shambhu Singh Khetasar.

However, the state has been completely wiped by the BJP. The debate on all TV channels are now is it the Modi effect or the Vasundhara Raje effect? Whatever it is, the BJP is definitely winning Rajasthan by a huge margin.

9. 40 am: Clean sweep for BJP in Rajasthan, lead in 124 It’s a clean sweep for BJP in Rajasthan as was predicted in the exit polls.

BJP is now leading in 117 seats, Congress in only 29. BSP in 3 and other independent parties in 14.

Congress can take some relief though. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is leading from Sardarpura assembly constituency in Rajasthan.

Though some BJP leaders believe that it was only possible to get this massive margin because of Vasundhara Raje’s leadership, many feel BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi has done the magic.

9. 30 am: BJP cross magical halfway mark

BJP has crossed the magical halfway mark. They are ahead of Congress by a massive margin.

BJP is leading in 107, Congress in 32 and others in 12.

How Twitter is reacting to BJP’s early win in Rajasthan:

It seems Twitteratti is quite happy with the poll results that are coming in.

9. 15 am: Congress still limping in Rajasthan

Congress is still limping in Rajasthan. Out of 119 seats, BJP is leading in 87, Congress in 20 and other parties in 12.

Meanwhile, outside the BJP headquarters in Rajasthan, BJP leaders are distributing sweets and celebrating with Narendra Modi’s posters.

9. 06 am: BJP leading in 72 out of 101

101 leads have come in. BJP leading in 72, Congress in 18, Others in 12.

The BJP leaders have already started celebrating in Rajasthan. One of the BJP leader told reporters, “It’s definitely Vasundhara Raje’s leadership.”

8. 57 am: Rajasthan headed for a clean sweep?

Rajasthan could be headed for a clean sweep with 90 percent seats in BJP’s favor.

Out of 82 leads, BJP is ahead in 62. Congress is ahead in 11 while BSP and other independent parties are ahead in 7

However, some people are optimistic that Gehlot will at least some mark.

8. 45 am: Out of 30 leads, BJP is leading in 24

Early trends show BJP is way ahead of Congress in Rajasthan.

Out of 30 leads that have come in, BJP is leading in 24. Congress in 5 and BSP in 1.

Two Congress candidates, Mewaram Jain of Barmer and Sohan Nayak, Raisinghnagar leading on their seats.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, widely predicted to stage an emphatic comeback in Rajasthan, is at the Tripura Sundari temple in Banswara. She will spend the day in the temple during the counting.

8. 40 am: BSP leading in 1

So, BSP has finally made an opening lead in Rajasthan. Right now out of 16 leads, BJP is leading in 10, Congress in 5. BSP is leading in 1.

8. 32 am: BJP ahead in 4, Congress in 2

It seems to be a crazy race in Rajasthan already. Moments after the first lead, the BJP is now leading ahead of Congress. Six leads are in. Congress is ahead in 2, while BJP is ahead in 4.

And of course the excitement shows:

8.24 am: BJP leading in 1

According to ETV Rajasthan, 3 leads have come in. Congress is ahead in 2, while the BJP is ahead in 1.

BJP is leading in 1. Siddhikumari from BJP Ahead in Rajasthan

8. 00 am: Counting begins in Rajasthan

Counting of votes in 199 Assembly constituencies of Rajasthan, which went to polls on 1 December, has begun amid tight security arrangements.

The exit polls had predicted that Vasundhara Raje will sweep the state. We’ll get to know the first trend very soon. Did you know: Jhotwara is the largest electoral constituency in Rajasthan Assembly elections with 293443 voters.

What Gehlot was doing on election counting eve

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is pegged to suffer an embarrassing defeat, but believes opinion polls and exit polls are only a “farce”. Speaking to The Indian Express, Gehlot says, “Last time they predicted we would not come to power and we did. In 2003 they said with full confidence that we would get 156 seats and we got 56. Such a joke.”

Over the past couple of days, Gehlot, a known Gandhian, has enjoyed a dinner with family at Jaipur’s famous LMB restaurant and also made a trip to Jain temple Choolgiri just outside the city.

7.20 am: Vasundhara Raje will be in Tripura temple during counting

Fate of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Opposition BJP’s state president Vasundhara Raje and 2087 other contestants in the state will be known when counting of votes for the Rajasthan Assembly polls takes place today.

The BJP’ Vasundhara Raje, widely predicted to stage an emphatic comeback in Rajasthan, will spend Sunday morning at a temple as votes are counted for the state polls held on 1 December.

The BJP leader left early for the Tripura Sundari temple, where she would stay till the results start pouring in

Altogether 37 centres across the State have been set up for the counting of votes in 33 districts, a Chief Electoral Officer spokesman today said.

Of 4.08 crore electors, 75.20 per cent exercised their franchise to elect 199 MLAs out of 2,087 contestants.

Polling in Churu constituency, which was adjourned following the death of BSP candidate Jagdish Meghwal, will now take place on 13 December and the counting will be done on 16 December.

In the state capital, counting of votes cast in 19 constituencies will take place in Rajasthan college and Commerce college.

What the exit poll had predicted:

Counting of votes in 199 Assembly constituencies of Rajasthan, which went to polls on 1 December, will take place today amid tight security arrangements.

Exit polls have supported the BJP’s confidence that it will evict the Congress’ Ashok Gehlot government in the state.

The “exit poll of polls”, an average of the exit polls conducted by different agencies, shows the BJP landing 125 of the 200 seats in the Rajasthan Assembly. The halfway mark is at 100. The Congress is seen as getting only 55.

The BJP expects to win on a combination of an ant-incumbency mood and the Narendra Modi factor.