BJP holds fort but Congress gains in Guj municipal polls

AHMEDABAD: The BJP won another election in Gujarat, winning 47 nagar palikas (town councils) in the municipal elections, although this number is down from 59 in the last polls.

The Congress won 16 — 10 more from last time — out of the 75 nagar palikas that went to polls on Saturday.

Independents won 10, although both the BJP and the Congress supported six (the same six). The Nationalist Congress Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party won one each.

The result in a way was similar to the December 2017 assembly elections wherein the Congress improved its performance, although the BJP retained power in the state.

Both the BJP, which actually won more nagar palikas (albeit fewer than last time) and the Congress claimed victory.

“Win in number of nagar palikas and total number of councillors has gone up for the Congress. The party has kept up its impressive show after the assembly elections,’’ said Congress legislator Alpesh Thakor.

The party also said that the six Independents who emerged victorious were also backed by it. The saffron party, however, denied the claims.

“At places where the voters did not choose BJP, they have opted for independents. This proves that voters have rejected the Congress,’’ BJP state president Jitu Vaghani said.

Of the total 2,116 councillor seats, the BJP won 1,212. In 2013, of the total 1905 seats, the BJP won 1,144. The Congress, which fielded candidates on its party symbol and also backed independents, won 640 (444 in 2013).

Krishnakant Unadkat, a political analyst said, the result has not brought cheers to any party. “The Congress’ gain is marginal and it needs to work harder for 2019 Lok Sabha. BJP has managed to hold the fort,” he said.

In December last year, the BJP had registered a sixth straight victory in the Gujarat assembly polls, winning 99 seats while the Congress secured 77 seats in the 182-member House.

WHILE BJP’S TALLY WAS DOWN FROM 59 TO 47, CONGRESS BAGGED 16 BODIES — 10 MORE THAN THE LAST ELECTIONS