BJP Achieves Remarkable Victory in Gujarat Local Body Elections
Overview of the Election Results
The BJP has celebrated a significant victory in the local body elections held in Gujarat. Counting for the elections across 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats, and 260 taluka panchayats commenced at 8 AM, covering a total of 9,992 seats. So far, the BJP has secured 6,161 seats.
The Congress party has managed to win 1,315 seats, while other parties have claimed 592 seats. The BJP's strike rate stands impressively at 76%. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has asserted that it has won in 380 seats.
Additionally, three candidates from Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM party have emerged victorious. Notably, cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's sister, Nayanaba Jadeja, lost her election bid in Rajkot while contesting on a Congress ticket.
There were reports of clashes between police and BJP workers near the counting center at Ahmedabad's LDS College, with police reportedly using force against the workers. In a close contest, a Congress candidate won the Palaj taluka panchayat seat in Bharuch by just one vote.
Former BJP MLA Bhupatbhai Bhayani faced defeat in the Bhesan seat, where AAP's Dinesh Ruparelia won by a margin of 1,700 votes. In Jamnagar's municipal ward-12, AAP's Aslam Khilji and Congress's Altaf Khafi won while being incarcerated, both facing charges under Gujarat laws.
Interestingly, a woman selling bangles, Sanshiben Kangshia, has been elected as a councilor from Ward-4 of Bahucharaji municipality. The BJP has successfully captured all 15 municipal corporations in the state, retaining control in cities like Rajkot, Jamnagar, Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Surat, and Morbi. Furthermore, they have also won in nine new municipal corporations, including Anand, Gandhidham, Mehsana, Morbi, Nadiad, Navsari, Porbandar-Chhaya, Surendranagar-Vadhwan, and Vapi.