Modi wave saves BJP's blushes in Gujarat as Congress makes big gains

BJP might take solace that its vote share has increased from 47.85% in 2012 to 49% but over a dozen seats went down the wire

“Param sukh”, or immense comfort, was how Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described his party’s chances in the Gujarat Assembly poll, at a Diwali get-together with journalists here on October 29. But, the Gujarat election campaign was anything but comfortable for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On Monday morning, as election results trickled in and the BJP inched towards the majority mark of 92 in the 182-member Assembly, the PM signalled a victory sign to television cameras and photographers as he entered Parliament to attend the winter session.

All eyes would now be on government formation in Gujarat — whether it reaches