Data from the ECI suggests that the saffron party actually got 76,614 more votes than Congress and its allies put together in 134 seats that are predominantly rural
Congress may thump its back for the tough fight it put up against the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party in Gujarat, especially in the urban and semi-urban areas, but BJP is still a force to reckon in villages, small cities and towns. Data from the Election Commission of India suggests that the saffron party actually got 76,614 more votes than Congress and its allies put together in 134 seats that are predominantly rural.
The 182-member Assembly has 134 seats that are either rural or semi-urban. Of these, BJP won 57, Congress won 71, its ally Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) won two, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won one and Independents won three seats, of which Jignesh Mevani was supported by Congress.
Congress and its allies got 74 seats in these areas, 17 more than BJP, however they got 98,90,064 votes in rural and semi-urban areas, while BJP got 99,66,660 votes. Congress got 95,71,855 votes, BTP got 2,22,694 votes, while Mevani bagged 95,497 votes.
Data indicates that Congress won by thinner margins and BJP won by a wider margins.
Dinesh Shukla, a former professor of Political Science at Gujarat University, attributes this phenomenon to BJP's expertise in dividing opposition votes so votes that should have gone to Congress are shared by planted candidates. Notwithstanding this, the Ahmedabad-resident admits that BJP is a force to reckon with in rural and semi-urban areas, while it continues to monopolize purely urban seats. "But you have to consider that it managed to bag these seats after PM Narendra Modi's relentless campaign," added Shukla.
In Shukla's opinion, Congress's lead holds lessons for BJP – that Modi magic is on a decline and Congress is on the road to resurgence in Gujarat. One also has to consider the rise of Rahul Gandhi, as fence voters may now be encouraged to vote to for Congress. Gujarat Congress spokesman Kailash Gadhvi said that Congress's hold is stronger in rural areas as BJP's victories are in seats that are more semi-urban than rural.
It terms of votes-share within the party, Congress and allies got 77.53% of the total vote; BJP got 67.69%.
While there was neck and neck competition for rural votes, there was a virtual monopoly in urban votes. BJP continued to have an iron hold with 47,57.767 votes, while Congress got 28,67,082 votes, about 40% less than BJP got.
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 "Gujarat elections 2017")
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Data indicates that Congress won by thinner margins and BJP won by a wider margins.
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