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| India's BJP 'wins' Gujarat poll | India's BJP 'wins' Gujarat poll |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The governing Congress party in India has recognised defeat in a key regional election that is seen as an important barometer for national elections. | |
| The Hindu nationalist BJP looks set to retain power for a fourth term in the western state of Gujarat. | The Hindu nationalist BJP looks set to retain power for a fourth term in the western state of Gujarat. |
| Its controversial right-wing Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, is credited with successful economic policies. | Its controversial right-wing Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, is credited with successful economic policies. |
| But he has been accused of failing to protect Muslims in 2002 religious riots in Gujarat that claimed 1,000 lives. | But he has been accused of failing to protect Muslims in 2002 religious riots in Gujarat that claimed 1,000 lives. |
| The BJP won or is leading the count in 115 of Gujarat's 182 constituencies, ahead of Congress with 59 constituencies, with other parties winning or leading in eight constituencies, according to the Electoral Commission of India. | The BJP won or is leading the count in 115 of Gujarat's 182 constituencies, ahead of Congress with 59 constituencies, with other parties winning or leading in eight constituencies, according to the Electoral Commission of India. |
| Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley told the Times of India that Mr Modi had secured a "respectful mandate" and that it was a rare election where a party had won on the plank of "good governance and development." | Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley told the Times of India that Mr Modi had secured a "respectful mandate" and that it was a rare election where a party had won on the plank of "good governance and development." |
| Shadow of the riots | Shadow of the riots |
| The Congress Party acknowledged its defeat in Gujarat, but reminded voters of the 2002 riots. | The Congress Party acknowledged its defeat in Gujarat, but reminded voters of the 2002 riots. |
| "I do not grudge him the victory," Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the Times of India. | "I do not grudge him the victory," Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the Times of India. |
| However, he added that the win did not remove the "blot" of the religious riots of 2002. | However, he added that the win did not remove the "blot" of the religious riots of 2002. |
| The communally divided western state voted in two stages on 11 and 16 December. | The communally divided western state voted in two stages on 11 and 16 December. |
| Correspondents say the victory will give new momentum to the BJP as it challenges Congress and its left-wing allies in the run up to a general election due in the next 18 months. | Correspondents say the victory will give new momentum to the BJP as it challenges Congress and its left-wing allies in the run up to a general election due in the next 18 months. |