BJP loses ground but will retain power: Exit poll

The Bharatiya Janata Party is poised to return to power in Gujarat, though with a reduced majority, according to an exit poll conducted by television channel Star News after the first phase of voting in the state on Tuesday.
The saffron party is expected to get 115 seats in the 182-member assembly, losing 12 seats. The Congress is likely to get 64 seats, gaining 13 seats, while Independents and others will get 3 seats, exit poll projections said.
Of the 87 seats which went to the polls on Tuesday, the BJP is expected to get 48, Congress 37 and Independents and others 2. The BJP had polled 43 per cent of the votes and the Congress 42 per cent, the projections said.
Polling for the second phase in the state will take place on December 16. Counting of votes will be held on December 23. The BJP and the Congress are the main parties in the fray.