In an SMS circulated by the Bharatiya Janata Party's media cell to reporters in Ahmedabad, Modi, in his first reaction to the trends indicating a substantial lead to the ruling party in the just-concluded assembly elections, said, "I did not become chief minister on October 7, 2001. I have always been a CM. I am CM today and shall be CM forever. For me CM means common man."

Coverage: Battle for Gujarat

The BJP, which had 127 MLAs in the 182-member assembly, according to available trends, has a lead in over 100 constituencies, raising the possibility of the party retaining power in Gujarat once again, beating the anti-incumbency and rebellion factors.