Gujarat Assembly Election 2017: BJP will retain Gujarat, says deputy chief minister Nitin Patel

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) key candidate and Gujarat deputy chief minister, Nitinbhai Patel, on 18 December expressed confidence that his party would retain the state.

Speaking to ANI, Patel said, "Ultimately, the BJP is going to register victory. It is leading almost everywhere now."

Patel is the BJP candidate from the Mahesana seat and is pitted against Congress' Jivabhai Patel, who was the MP in 2004.

In 2012 elections, he competed against 31 candidates and elected as MLA from Mahesana district. The counting of votes for 182 constituencies in Gujarat which began on Monday at 8 am, is underway.

Also read: Gujarat, Himachal Assembly Election Result 2017 Live Updates: BJP touches 100 mark

However, the early trends suggest BJP leading on 99 seats while Congress on 73. 

-ANI