This is a victory of development, Smriti Irani said
Highlights
- It is a win for our governance and organisation: Smriti Irani
- Briefly, Congress, BJP ran neck-and-neck as per early trends from Gujarat
- BJP registers fifth straight win in Gujarat and sweep in Himachal
Union minister Smriti Irani, reacting to the BJP's victory in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, said: "
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar." The phrase, the title of a hit movie, caught on quickly as the party made it past the winning post in a tough fight in Gujarat.
"It is cause for celebration. This is a victory of development, of the leadership of Amit Shah...It is a win for our governance and organization," said Ms Irani, 40, dedicating the victory to workers starting from the polling booth level.
Asked about the Congress giving the party a scare in the morning, when the tallies were almost neck-and-neck, the minister shot back: "I think
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (Whoever wins is king)."
Speaking above loud fireworks, singing and dancing at the BJP's headquarters in Delhi, Ms Irani also called it a win for the BJP's governance and organization.
The BJP has won a record fifth term in Gujarat with 100-plus seats; it had won 116 seats in the previous election in 2012. The party is also set to snatch Himachal Pradesh from the Congress.
The BJP has won every election since 1995 in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.
It was out of power for a couple of years because of party in-fighting and rebellion by Shankersinh Vaghela. The party came back to power in 1998 and has ruled uninterrupted since then.
At least 92 seats are needed in the 182-member assembly to form a government in the state.