TNI Bureau: The counting of votes for Gujarat Assembly elections began today at 8 am at 33 places in the state.

In Gujarat, Around 71.32 percent voters cast their ballot for all the 182 Assembly constituencies in two phases on December 13 and 17.

The assembly elections were virtually a three-way fight with rebel BJP leader Keshubhai Patel, a former Chief Minister, launching his political outfit Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) months ahead of the polls and main Opposition Congress running a sustained and aggressive campaign against Modi.

Congress had lost power in the key western state in 1990.

According to exit polls, there will be a comfortable win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a hat- trick for Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr. Modi is seeking a third straight term in office.

As of now, at 9.30am,  BJP leads in 95 seats, while Congress is ahead  in  52 and others are in 4 seats.