BJP may lose some seats but Congress may not benefit in Gujarat

Nearly 86.16 lakh voters will cast their ballot on Sunday for the six municipal corporations in the state and it looks like BJP might attain easy victory. But the saffron party might not be able to maintain the number of seats it won in the 2005 elections. However, BJP's probable loss of seats might not be help Congress. Vadodara Municipal CorporationNo of seats won by BJP in 2005 election = 76No of seats won by Congress in 2005 election = 7It is likely that BJP will continue to rule the VMC for the fifth consecutive time, but the party may not repeat its 2005 performance where out of 84 seats, it won 76. A BJP Vadodara unit insider said: "Winning won't be a problem. Citizens are not happy with the work carried out by local level leaders. There are problems of water-logging and bad roads. However, in the absence of an option, people will return the BJP."Surat Municipal CorporationNo of seats won by BJP in 2005 election = 90No of seats won by Congress in 2005 election = 11Though the BJP has been winning the SMC since 1987, its vote share and number of seats might shrink this time. There were a total of 102 seats in 2005 and BJP had clinched 90 seats and Congress 11. Now, after the addition of four more wards after the delimitation, the total number of ward and seats has increased to 38 and 114 respectively. Party workers from both rivals admit that Congress may increase its tally. Jamnagar Municipal CorporationNo of seats won by BJP in 2005 election = 42No of seats won by Congress in 2005 election = 9Congress has never captured the Jamnagar Municipal Corporation. BJP has been winning here since 1995 and earlier independent candidates used to rule. This time BJP may not be able to win as it did in 2005, because of infighting. Congress will not be able to take advantage of this because it too is also facing similar problems. Bhavnagar Municipal CorporationNo of seats won by BJP in 2005 election = 39No of seats won by Congress in 2005 election = 12BJP has been in power in the Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation since 1995 and Congress had ruled the BMC from 1982 to 1995.

The main issue that Bhavnagar residents face is water crisis. The Shetrunjee dam has overflowed six times, but there is not enough water for two years to supply the city. Sources in the Congress said, "This time there will be neck and neck battles in most of the wards."Rajkot Municipal CorporationNo of seats won by BJP in 2005 election = 59No of seats won by Congress in 2005 election = 10Rajkot is also facing almost similar issues like Jamnagar. Except for 2000-2005, BJP has won the RMC elections six times. Despite good work done in the 2000-2005 period, Congress had not cemented its place here because of infighting. But there is every possibility that the BJP will not be able to win the 59 seats it did like last year, though it can easily get 45 out of the total of 69 seats.