Exit polls after the first phase of polling in 87 assembly constituencies of Gujarat on Tuesday projected Congress making impressive gains and ruling BJP suffering reverses, but one of them showed the saffron party retaining power in the state.

While the survey by Star News poll said Congress will get 37 seats, a gain of seven, the NDTV poll showed that the party will get 43 seats, up by 13 from its 2002 poll tally in South Gujarat and Saurashtra where elections were held.

The NDTV survey put the BJP tally at 40, a loss of 13 seats, while Star News gave the saffron party 48, five less than what it got in the last elections.

The overall projection of Star News for was 115 seats for the BJP, down 12, 64 for Congress, a gain of 13 and three for others.

In rebel-hit Saurashtra, the NDTV survey showed BJP getting 26 seats as against 39 in 2002 polls. The region has 58 constituencies. According to it, Congress will get 31 and others one in the region.

In South Gujarat, BJP, Congress and others maintain their 2002 poll tally winning 14, 12 and two seats respectively, the exit poll said. The region has 28 assembly segments. The NDTV poll left out one seat in Central Gujarat.