Gondal taluka panchayat: BJP benefits from cross-voting in election for top posts

Despite a whip from her party to vote for Vaghela and Pambhar, Congress member Aruna Thummar cross-voted in the twin elections by raising her hand in favour of BJP candidates. This resulted in a tie with candidates of both parties securing 11 votes each.

Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Gondal, Hamumantsinh Jadeja who was presiding officer of the election, then declared to conduct a draw of lots to decide winners for the posts of president and vice president. In the draw of lots, Vaghela emerged victorious. However, Pambhar lost out to his BJP rival Jadeja as his name did not figure in the lottery.

The lots were drawn by a staf-member serving in the office of Gondal mamlatdar.

“After the voting resulted in tie, we conducted draw of lots, as laid out in the rule, to decide winners. Eventually, Vaghela and Jadeja were declared winners,” the SDM told The Indian Express.

Thummar was elected from Kamadhiya seat of the taluka panchayat in her maiden election. Congress said it will take action against her. “We shall report the matter to our district president for suitable action. We shall also seek guidence from the party leaders to ensure that cross-voting does not happen in the election for members of executive council of the panchayat body,” said Mukesh Mandanka, president of Gondal taluka unit of Congress.

On the other hand, BJP said it was not horse-trading. “Thummar’s husband Ashwin was a BJP worker before the elections were announced. He wanted to contest the panchayat poll but BJP denied him ticket. Therefore, he jumped the camp and joined Congress. His wife got ticket and won. But since the time results were declared, we were in touch with our old worker,” said Jayantibhai Dhol, general secretary of Rajkot district unit of the BJP.

The general board of the taluka panchayat will meet again in coming days to elect nine members of the executive council.