Modi wins Maninagar by 70,000 votes

Chief Minister Narendra Modi was elected to the Gujarat assembly Thursday, retaining Maninagar constituency in Ahmedabad's outskirts by more than 70,000 votes.

Modi defeated Congress' Shweta Bhatt, wife of suspended police officer Sanjeev Bhatt, officials said. The widely expected victory triggered noisy celebrations by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters.

Modi, 62, has ruled Gujarat since October 2001 when he replaced incumbent chief minister Keshubhai Patel.

He became Gujarat's longest serving chief minister in July 2007 when he completed 2,063 days in office. In December 2007, he led the BJP to victory for the second time in a row.