India's ruling party likely to win key state election
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to maintain its hold on the western state of Gujarat despite predictions by many analysts of a close fight.
By midday Monday, India's Election Commission showed that the BJP was ahead in the counting for 102 seats, well over the 92 seats needed to form a majority government in the 182-seat state assembly. The BJP has ruled the state for two decades, with Modi himself leading it for 10 years.
The main opposition Congress party was leading in 74 seats, a jump from the 61 seats it held previously.
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The BJP was also comfortably ahead in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.
Modi headlined his party's campaign, especially in his home state of Gujarat.