Gujarat Assembly elections 2017: Here's how Twitter interpreted the results
After an early morning scare for the BJP, which made the fight in Gujarat elections appear tougher than initially predicted both by the party and the pollsters, the saffron party is set to form the government in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state for an impressive sixth consecutive term.
While the BJP surged ahead in the initial trends, the Congress gradually gained pace. However, the final figures assert a stunning victory for the BJP with over 105 seats. The state that voted in two phases on December 9 and December 14 saw a high-octane battle in which PM Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi took each other head-on, making it an election that the entire country watched closely.
Here's how Twitter reacted as results started trickling in and the picture cleared out.
The politicians react
I’m done with #Election2017. Gujarat hasn’t been a disaster for the Congress & it hasn’t been the emphatic victory the BJP wanted. Take from it what you will. Over & out!
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 18, 2017
The Congress party accepts the verdict of the people and congratulates the new governments in both states. I thank the people of Gujarat and Himachal with all my heart for the love they showed me.
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) December 18, 2017
Hearty Congratulations to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and BJP president Shri Amit Shah Ji for comprehensive victory of BJP in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections. @narendramodi @AmitShah
— Ram Vilas Paswan (@irvpaswan) December 18, 2017
मैं बीजेपी को उसकी जीत के लिए अभिनंदन नहीं दूंगा क्योंकि ये जीत बेईमानी से हुई हैं।गुजरात की जनता जागृत हुवी हैं लेकिन और जागृत होना ज़रूरी हैं।EVM के साथ छेड़छाड़ हुवी है यह हक़ीक़त हैं।
— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) December 18, 2017
When the Congress came close
Although the BJP has won Gujarat, early morning trends gave Congress and its supporters hope that the inevitable was indeed possible. However, as the day progressed things changed.
If someone woke up after 10 am to see trends.. They would never know the earthquake that happened from 8.30 to 10 #GujaratVerdict
— Anu (@tpanoop) December 18, 2017
Between 8.30 and 10 AM today, anti-Modi gang was gung-ho about #GujaratVerdict. "See we are winning!".But now that BJP is winning both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, those guys can't even blame EVM this evening ????
— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) December 18, 2017
I have experienced inflation, deflation and reflation, all in a matter of couple of hours.I feel like a bicycle pump.#GujaratElection2017 #GujaratVerdict #GujaratResults
— Arnold's Soundness (@brakoo) December 18, 2017
EVM-tampering
Twitter was unforgiving of those who had alleged that EVM-tampering was being done in the BJP's favour.
The fight is so close in Gujarat... so close.. i mean, so close... that it is difficult to decide whether the EVMs are tampered or not! #GujaratVerdict #GujaratElection2017 #GujaratResults
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) December 18, 2017
9 :00 Am Congress: 45 BJP: 34 Congess: EVM working fine 9:30 Am Congress : 56 BJP : 40 Congress: EVM working Fine 10:10 AM Congess 70 BJP :98 Congress : EVM hack #GujaratVerdict
— Ram (@play_with_ind) December 18, 2017
चुनाव कोई भी जीते As a Citizen of this Nation - 1 Simple Question Why EC refused to Tally VVPAT Slips of EVMs ??? #GujaratVerdict
— Aarti (@aartic02) December 18, 2017
Nota
While both parties can claim to have done well, voters are certainly miffed with the political class in general.
#GujaratVerdict: Forget BJP & Congress for a minute. More than two lakh Gujaratis voted for... NOTA. pic.twitter.com/4YkQju4O28
— The Quint (@TheQuint) December 18, 2017
GST impact
You can't talk about Gujarat without talking about business and the impact of economic policies.
Amit Shah targeted 15028% GST on 150 = 42Gujjus delivered 108 #GujaratVerdict #Explained
— Shaitaan Khopdi™???????? (@shaitaankhopdi) December 18, 2017
If BJP sweeps #Surat - it clearly indicates GST and Deomonetisation impact is on the wane. #Dec18WithArnab #GujaratVerdict
— GhoseSpot (@SandipGhose) December 18, 2017
Takeaways
Voters have a clear message for Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi.
The real verdict of Gujarat is Congress closing in on the gap & "Son of the Soil" being rejected by Rural Gujarat. ✌???? #GujaratVerdict #NoDevelopment
— Himanshu Sharma (@whohimanshus) December 18, 2017
Irrespective of final results #GujaratVerdict is @OfficeOfRG is here to stay and @narendramodi is not unbeatable
— SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) December 18, 2017
Now onwards, all elections in India will be fought and won on two agendas:1. Development2. HindutvaTopi and Dalit-Brahmin politics days are gone.#GujaratVerdict
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) December 18, 2017
#GujaratVerdict #GujaratElection2017 #GujaratResults #Modi4Gujarat with all the khichadi assembled by pappu & party thy still lost! so media's argument over the years that if the khichadi comes together biryani can be made! people have proved them wrong!
— kuch_toh_gadbadh_hai (@callingspadeasp) December 18, 2017
Advice for BJP
Of course, here's the underlying message for the BJP.
Now @BJP4India should learn from #GujaratElection2017 that they have to stick to #Hindutava & #Vikas only & don't try to get #Secular otherwise 2019 will be very tough. #GujaratElection #GujaratVerdict #GujaratResults @AmitShah @narendramodi @BJP4Gujarat @BJPLive
— Against Pidi Gang (@AgainstPidiGang) December 18, 2017
How Sensex saw the results
Ultimately, it's the verdict given by Dalal Street that matters a lot.
Bloodbath at Dalal street. Sensex down by 600 points. This is how markets react to even a slight hint of Congress returning to power anywhere.#GujaratVerdict
— Tarun (@YearOfMonk) December 18, 2017
The mere idea of Congress coming back to power tanked the Sensex by 800 points. Says enough about Modi and Congress at a macroeconomic level.
— The Frustrated Indian (@FrustIndian) December 18, 2017
The real winners are the ones who made money on the #sensex and #nifty Everyone else enjoy the #memes #GujaratVerdict #GujaratElection2017 #HimachalPradeshElections
— Ravi Singh (@ravisin89) December 18, 2017
Road ahead
For the BJP, there's no time to rest. The next mission begins.
Modi-Shah duo has already started campaign for Mizoram & Meghalaya. No time for rest.Congress is happy, ecstatic & in joyful mood after giving tough fight in #GujaratVerdict. They are clueless about North-East.
— Farrago Abdullah (@abdullah_0mar) December 18, 2017
As always, the verdict on Twitter sums up the mood of the nation.