The ruling BJP appeared set to perform a hat-trick in Gujarat while trends reversed in favour of Congress in Himachal Pradesh where it could wrest power from the saffron party.

Official trends in the counting of votes that began this morning projected chief minister Narendra Modi capturing power for the third consecutive time worsting Congress.

The BJP was projected as leading in as many as 104 seats while the Congress was leading in 59. The NCP was leading in one while 'others' including the Gujarat Parivartan Party headed by Keshubhai Patel in four.

In the 182-member Assembly, the BJP had won 117 in the last elections in 2007 while Congress got 59.

Fortunes changed for Congress in Himachal Pradesh, where it was initially projected as trailing the ruling BJP. At 10 AM, the Congress was leading in 28 seats while the BJP was ahead in 20 in the 68-memmber Assembly. 'Others' led in four.

In the outgoing Assembly in Himachal Pradesh, BJP had 41 and and Congress 23..

As the trends showed reverses for BJP in Himachal Pradesh, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal appeared prepared for a defeat.

"Whatever people decide is good. It would be good if they support us, and good even if they don't. I will welcome the decision of people," he said when asked to react on the declining trends of his party's fortunes in the state.

Earlier when the trends showed that the BJP was leading in the state, Dhumal had voiced confidence of a victory in the polls.

"I am very confident (for a win)," he had said.

While Congress was leading on 28 seats, BJP after initial gains, slowed down to 18 seats in Himachal Pradesh's 68 member legislative assembly.

Asked whether BJP's performance declined due to factionalism in the party, Dhumal said, "I don't comment on issues related to the organisation in the media."

Buoyed by the trends in Gujarat, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, "let us understand BJP is winning for the third time over and Congress is losing for the fifth time".

She downplayed contentions about a decline in the margin of victory for her party in the Narendra Modi-ruled state.

"Every election has its impact on national dynamics" was refrain when asked about the fall-out of Gujarat verdict on the national politics for the BJP.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi was leading in Maninagar.

Both the Pradesh Congress Committee chief and the its legislature party leader Arjun Modhwadia and Shaktisinh Gohil were trailing.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the victory in Gujarat polls "makes Narenda Modi unstoppable in the BJP.

He is very important Chief Minister for BJP but that has nothing to do with his national acceptability".