As BJP maintains lead in 46 seats in Himachal Pradesh, another Congress-ruled state seems to be slipping out of the grasp of grand old party today. Apart from Himachal Pradesh, Congress rules only in Karnataka and Punjab among the major states.

However, Congress leaders are happy that the party and its allies are maintaining lead in over 70 seats in Gujarat. "The Congress tally has gone up there, while the BJP's numbers have fallen. This is the start of Rahul Gandhi's political story," senior Congress leader Kamal Nath told

reporters outside Parliament.

His colleague, Renuka Chowdary, added: "Congress has done brilliantly. Our strength has increased. Morally, it has been a brilliant intervention of Rahul Gandhi."