BJP retains grip in Gujarat municipal polls despite reversal in rural areas

GANDHINAGAR: Though the ruling BJP retained all six Municipal Corporations, the party saw its popularity wane in the rural areas of the state.

The party witnessed some erosion in its support base in the urban areas as well. However in Patidar-dominated areas, the BJP put up a good show. It won the municipality of Viramgam, home of Hardik Patel, the convener of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

The contest was extremely close in Rajkot where BJP won 38 seats while Congress bagged 34 seats. In Bhavnagar, the BJP managed 34 seats while Congress bagged 18. In Jamnagar, BJP managed 37 seats and Congress bagged 25. In Vadodara, BJP bagged 46 seats while Congress won in 17. In Surat, BJP bagged 77 and Congress won 39. In Ahmedabad, BJP won 124 seats, leaving 51 seats for Congress.

These elections are being looked as a litmus test for Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who had managed the campaign alone with very few senior BJP leaders being visible on ground. This is also the first major election in the state after Narendra Modi’s departure.

The trend has been reversed in the rural areas with the District and Block Panchayats showing major tilt towards Congress and Congress also putting up a strong show across 56 municipalities.

Out of total 2,088 seats of municipality, BJP so far has managed 1,048 while Congress 596. For Municipal corporations, out of 572 seats BJP has bagged 361 and Congress has managed 169 seats, and for the 988 district panchayat seats, BJP has managed 318 seats while Congress bagged 514. For 4,778 Taluka panchayat seats, the BJP managed 1,413 seats so far and Congress bagged 2,108 seats.

In an interesting development, 35 independents registered win in Unjha Municipality and only one Congress candidate romped home. In this stronghold of the Patidar Community, BJP had failed to field even a single candidate.

All six municipal corporations, 31 district panchayats and most of the block panchayats, were ruled by BJP and the party has been fighting anti-incumbency along with the resentment from the Patidar community.