Himachal Pradesh exit poll updates: Exit polls predict comprehensive BJP win!

A poll conducted by the BJP within its own ranks has apparently said the saffron party will not win more than 50 seats in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election.

State BJP president Satpal Satti was quoted by Indian Express: "There is no formal agenda for the conclave but party's top leaders wanted to exchange notes with the candidates and also brief them about future plans on the counting day and after."

Polling for 68 seats in the HP Assembly had taken place on November 9, with the counting slated to take place on December 18.

Exit polls for the HP election will be made public after 5 pm on Thursday, December 14,when polling in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly election ends.

The Election Commission had instructed news outlets not to publish any exit polls for the two Assembly elections before the end of both, so voters are not influenced.

The Congress had won 36 seats last time, while the BJP had won 27 seats. Five had been occupied by independents.

Here are the exit polls for the HP Assembly election:

Meanwhile, here are the LIVE updates:

9:30 pm IST: And we have the final analysis in place! Find out exactly why the BJP is sweeping to power in Himachal right HERE.

7:30 pm IST: Stick around for some analyses to understand why the voters may have favoured the BJP in much greater numbers than anticipated.

6:55 pm IST: As it becomes clearer and clearer that the BJP will win this election if the exit polls speak the truth, the trolls are making their presence felt on social media!

6:20 pm IST: One of the most-awaited exit polls is out, and Today's Chanakya defies even the BJP's own predictions!

It says the saffron party will win 55 seats in HP, while the Congress will win a mere 13. The BJP's internal survey had predicted it would not win more than 50 seats in the state.

6:10 pm IST: As is evident from the table above, the exit polls are painting Himachal Pradesh saffron. The BJP will call this a vote for stability if the final results reflect these numbers.

5:50 pm IST: The consensus seems to be heavily towards the BJP, with just one or two voices that differ!

5:30 pm IST: The focus may be on Gujarat now, but HP is no pushover. A setback for the BJP here could give the Congress some much-needed wind in their sails.

5:20 pm IST: While we wait for the HP exit polls, it may be interesting to note that there is every chance of a coalition government here. Who leads the coalition will be the big question then.

5:10 pm IST: Expect the results and analyses of the Himachal exit polls to come thick and fast. Psephologists have been sitting on it since November 9, when polling took place.

The Gujarat exit polls may take some time to emerge, though.

5:01 pm IST: Voting has stopped in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly election, paving the way for exit polls in both Gujarat and HP.