NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory on Monday in two state elections, including a closely-fought race in his stronghold of Gujarat where the charismatic leader fronted the campaign.

Modi thanked voters in Gujarat, his home state in India’s west, and the northern Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, for backing the ruling Hindu national party in the local polls.

“I bow to the people of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh for their affection and trust in BJP,” Modi posted on his official Twitter account, using the initials of his Bharatiya Janata Party.

“I assure them that we will leave no stone unturned in furthering the development journey of these states and serve the people tirelessly.”

BJP chief Amit Shah also called victory for the ruling party, saying Modi’s development agenda had prevailed over “family politics”, a reference to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty that leads the main opposition Congress party.

The BJP was on track to win 99 seats in the 182-seat Gujarat parliament as counting continued, the Election Commission of India said.

That result would return the BJP to power for a sixth consecutive term in the bellwether state, but slash its majority from 115 seats in the last election.

The main opposition Congress party was on track to make inroads, though, leading in 77 seats, a jump from the 61 it held previously.

A loss would have been a major embarrassment for both Modi and the BJP, which has ruled the state in western India for two decades, with Modi himself as leader for 10 years until he became prime minister in 2014.

The election was also the first real test for Rahul Gandhi, the new president of Congress and the 47-year-old heir to India’s most famous political dynasty. Gandhi was chosen party president last week, taking over from his mother, Sonia Gandhi.

The BJP appeared poised to wrest power from Congress in another state, leading comfortably in Himachal Pradesh in north India. Cheerful BJP leaders flashed victory signs outside Parliament in New Delhi.

Final results in both races were expected Monday evening. Gujarat voted in two phases on Dec. 9 and 14. Himachal Pradesh voted on Dec. 9.

The election in Gujarat was bitterly fought, with campaigning marked by some of the sharpest verbal duels seen in recent Indian elections.

Modi implied at one point, without presenting any evidence, that the Congress party may have been conniving with rival Pakistan to impact the voting. The allegation was angrily denied by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a Congress party leader.

Modi led his party’s campaign, especially in Gujarat, headlining dozens of rallies. Many analysts said it was the closest fight Modi and his party have faced.

The Congress party has steadily lost ground since the BJP swept to power in national elections in 2014. Congress has lost a series of state elections over the last three years, winning only the state of Punjab.

The BJP wins come as it gears up for national elections in 2019. — Agencies