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Journalism of Courage
The BJP swept the local self-government body elections, winning a majority of the over 2,000 seats — 213 of which it won uncontested — that went to polls last week. As the results came in, the state’s ruling party had won 1,600 seats of the total 2,165 across municipal corporations, municipalities and panchayats, which saw regular elections, by-elections and mid-term elections.
The Congress won around 300 seats. Both the major parties saw a few upsets with AAP, which was contesting municipalities and panchayats for the first time, getting a toehold, winning 30 seats, mostly in Saurashtra.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) also made major gains and can form boards in the Kutiyana and Ranavav municipalities in Porbandar, upsetting the BJP that was in power there. The SP had put up 84 candidates while 670 from AAP contested the polls. The AIMIM won a seat in the Upleta municipality.
State BJP chief and Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Paatil said BJP would form boards in 65 municipalities, “as BJP had a clear majority in 60 municipalities and independent candidates had extended support in five municipalities”. Paatil said that earlier, BJP was in power in 51 municipalities.
The Congress won one municipality – Salaya in Devbhumi Dwarka.
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the results “yet another victory for the politics of development”, Paatil said the win was due to the popularity of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil said the Congress may have suffered setbacks because of the leaders that quit even as he insisted the results were not “as disappointing”.
Gujarat AAP spokesperson Karan Barot said in a statement, “On at least 250 seats, the AAP is at number two whereas the Congress is hardly visible. The Delhi Assembly election results have not impacted Gujarat…”
SP’s state general secretary Ram Sevak Sahani said, “We have already won 42 seats, making inroads in Chhota Udepur and will be forming the bodies in the Kutiyana and Ranavav nagarpalikas.” The SP’s final tally was 43.
Independents won 156 seats across bodies while BSP won 19.
