NEW DELHI: The Bjp recorded an impressive victory in the Gujarat municipal elections, counting for which it is still underway. It is a relief for the ruling party ahead of the 2022 assembly elections. In total, the state party has won 449 of the total 576 seats so far, Congress 44, AAP 19, BSP 3 and an independent candidate in the state civic polls.
The performance of Congress, which had improved its count in the 2017 state polls, has deteriorated. The AAP led by Delhi’s Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal not only opened its account in Surat, but also emerged as the second largest party in the city.
These are the highlights of the municipal election results:
Pro-incumbency for BJP
The results are a huge shot in the arm for the BJP and the Prime Minister of Gujarat. Vijay rupani since they occur about 20 months before the elections to the state assembly. The result shows that there is a favorable mood for the incumbency in the government of Vijay Rupani.
It should be a pleasant development for the BJP, as the party’s performance had plummeted in the 2017 assembly elections compared to 2012. By 2012, the BJP had won 115 seats in the 182-member assembly. However, the count dropped to 99 in the 2017 election.
The results of the municipal elections should bring cheers to the BJP which has won six consecutive elections to the assembly since 1995.
The results of the municipal elections should bring cheers to the BJP, which has won six consecutive elections to the assembly since 1995.
No impact of farmers’ protest
The results of the municipal elections in Gujarat could be compared with those of the recent elections in Punjab. Led by Prime Minister Amarinder Singh, Congress recorded a resounding victory in Punjab winning six municipal corporations (Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Bathinda, Batala, Kapurthala and Abohar) and emerging as the largest party in Moga.
Amarinder Singh took advantage of the voters ‘mood for the incumbency and the ongoing farmers’ protest against the three core farm laws. Most of the restless farmers are from Punjab.
Singh’s Gujarat counterpart, Vijay Rupani, also benefited from the pro-ownership mood. However, it is clear that, unlike in Punjab, there is no impact from the agitation of farmers in Gujarat.
Setback for Congress
If the results of Gujarat’s municipal elections are a boost for the BJP, conversely, they are a major brake on the main rival Congress.
Directed by Rahul gandhi, who was declared president of Congress amid Gujarat’s 2017 assembly elections, the party emerged as the main rival of the ruling BJP.
The Congressional tally increased from 61 in 2012 to 77 in 2017. The party’s vote share also jumped from 38.95 percent in 2012 to 41.4 percent in 2017, an increase of 2.45 percent.
The position of Congress appears to have deteriorated and would have to cover a lot of ground in the next assembly elections.
Appearance of AAP in Surat
According to the results announced so far, the BJP has won 126 of the 145 seats in Ahmedabad, 68 of the 72 seats in Rajkot, 50 of the 64 seats in Jamnagar, 44 of the 52 seats in Bhavnagar, 65 of 72 seats in Vadodara and 92 of the 111 seats in Surat.
The Congress has won 14 seats in Ahmedabad, 4 in Rajkot, 11 in Jamnagar, 8 in Bhavnagar and 7 in Vadodara. By winning 19 seats in Surat so far, AAP has become the second largest party and is ahead of Congress.
Encouraged by the results in Surat, AAP coordinator Arvind Kejriwal has decided to visit Gujarat and tour Surat on February 26.
AAP has become BJP’s main rival in Surat. It may try to expand its base in other parts of Gujarat for the next assembly elections.
The results in Surat are a reflection of the results of the 2020 Delhi assembly. Surat, like Delhi, has many migrant workers due to the diamond cutting and polishing industries. It seems they also supported Kejriwal in Surat.
Second, migrant workers had suffered the most during the shutdown period of March 25 last year in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. They appear to have voted against the BJP in Gujarat’s municipal elections.
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