The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, New Delhi

Hindu nationalists are losing ground to the Congress party in elections in the western Indian state of Gujarat but are still expected to retain control, reports said Wednesday. Quoting exit polls conducted after the first stage of voting in Gujarat on Tuesday, the NDTV and Star News television networks said the hardline Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would see its majority in the state assembly cut. Out of the 87 seats up for grabs on Tuesday, the BJP was expected to see its share cut from 54 to between 40 and 48 due to gains by Congress, which governs India on a federal level, the channels said. The remaining 95 constituencies -- where the BJP did well in polls five years ago -- will vote on Sunday, with results expected on December 23. Star News said the BJP would keep control of the state with 115 seats out of 182 available, while the Congress would bag 64 seats at the end of both rounds of polling. In the last elections, the BJP won 128 seats and Congress 51.