Gujarat local body polls: BJP wins in urban pockets, suffers setback in rural centres
"This is the victory of the people and party workers. We fought the elections on the issue of development and that is what matters to the people," Meenakshi Ben Patel said.
The BJP supporters began the celebrations across Ahmedabad today after the early trends of the Gujarat Civic polls showed the saffron party leading in most of the municipal corporations.
Ahmedabad Mayor and BJP leader Meenakshi Ben Patel, who won from Jodhpur seat here, said that they had fought the elections on the issue of development.
"This is the victory of the people and party workers. We fought the elections on the issue of development and that is what matters to the people," she told ANI.
She also rubbished reports of the recent Patidar agitation having an effect on the BJP's chances in the civic polls.
Voting for six municipal corporations was held on November 26, while that for 31 district panchayats, 230 taluka panchayats and 56 municipalities was held on November 29.
The elections are being seen as a challenge for the BJP and the Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, as they come after the Patel quota stir. These are also the first major elections in the state after Anandiben took over from Narendra Modi.
With Agency Inputs
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The situation currently in Gujarat. Congress has make big inroads in rural areas
Image courtesy @AniruddhaRR
The Congress is leading in district and taluka panchayats and the saffron party is ahead in corporations and municipalities as initial counting trends in the crucial civic polls in Gujarat start pouring in from across the state.
The BJP had held almost all the local bodies earlier in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The civic elections have also assumed significance for the ruling party in the backdrop of Patel quota agitation and being the first major political battle for Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
The Congress has surged ahead in nine district panchayats of the state, while the BJP is leading in four out of the total 31 district panchayats that went to polls.In the last election, the Congress had only won the Tapi district panchayat.
The BJP, however, is ahead in all the six municipal corporations that went to polls, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Vadodara. All the municipal corporations were earlier held by BJP.The ruling party is also doing reasonably well in the 56 municipalities.
However, in the 230 taluka panchayats, the Congress is doing well at the initial stage, State Election Commission officials said.
In the prestigious Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation polls, the BJP is ahead in more than 50 seats, while the Congress is leading in 15 seats out of total of 192 seats.
Jamnagar- BJP 31, Congress 17. Ahmedabad- BJP 79, Congress 31. Bhavnagar- BJP 34, Congress 18
Congress wins both Zila Parishad and municipal corporation in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home district Mehsana.
* As per the Election Commission, in 230 Taluka or block panchayats results for total 4,778 wards,
* BJP is leading/won on 950 seats, Congress is leading/won on 850 seats.
Rajkot- BJP 16, Congress- 14 | Vadodara - BJP 11, Congress - 10 | Surat (leads)- BJP 50, Congress 30.
* As per trends available around 11 am, BJP is said to be leading in all 6 municipal corporations.
* BJP wins seat in Patel quota row leader Hardik Patel's home ward.
Ahmedabad mayor Meenakshiben Patel wins.
Junanagar Zila Panchayat chief loses.
Counting of votes underway
BJP leads in 5 Municipal Corporations – Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar. Congress leads Surat.