These are the first major elections in Gujarat since Anandiben took over as chief minister, handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to replace him as he moved to Delhi after the national election last May.
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AICC common secretary Gurudas Kamat stated that the BJP had witnessed an entire rout in areas represented by the PM, senior BJP chief L N Advani and Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
The counting of votes for the crucial local bodies polls in Gujarat, which is seen as a litmus test for the BJP against the backdrop of Patel quota stir, started across the state today. “In the last election we won 151 seats”. The Chief Minister received a grand welcome at Khanpur office as the BJP has retained the six municipal corporations: Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Surat, Jamnagar, Vadodara and Rajkot. In the outgoing Rajkot Municipal Corporation, the BJP had 49 members, as against Congress’ just 10.
As per ABP News BJP was leading in all Municipal Corporations. As per the latest updates, Ruling party BJP is leading in 4 wards and Congress on 2 seats in Vadodara Municipal Corporation. “Results are a stepping stone for a Congress’ victory in 2017”, he said.
Water resources minister Vijay Rupani, who oversaw the RMC polls in Rajkot, told media persons that they will analyse the results where party could have won more seats.
“These results indicate the BJP government is on its way out in Gujarat”.
“The BJP Government has also paid a heavy price for their vindictive attitude and witch hunt towards the agitators”, he added. Despite urban defeat, results show that the Congress defeated the BJP in some of those city areas where it was considered strong, especially in the Patel-dominated areas.
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Mr Kamat said the way the BJP and the state government handled local issues including law and order problem evoked sharp reaction sending the message that “attitude of intolerance will not be tolerated”. In Jamnagar, BJP managed 37 seats and Congress bagged 25.
