BJP celebrates win.

BJP dominates Gujarat local polls, set to better 2015 tally; AAP makes its mark

BJP wins Ahmedabad district panchayat polls, but president from Congress

Agency Report | Gandhinagar | 2 March, 2021 | 11:00 PM

The ruling BJP is headed for a big win once again in Gujarat local polls leading in 2,085 of 8,474 seats across various municipalities. Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took up from where it left last week, scoring again on its debut outing with 16 seats. "Results of the Nagar Palika, Taluka Panchayat and District Panchayat polls across Gujarat give a crystal clear message - Gujarat is firmly with the BJP's agenda of development and good governance. I bow to the people of Gujarat for the unwavering faith and affection towards BJP," PM Modi tweeted. Continuing its good run in civic polls seen to be a test before elections next year, the BJP surged ahead in 75 of 81 municipalities, with the Congress's seats dropping to four and AAP ahead in two. The BJP is leading in all 31 district panchayats and it is ahead in 196 of 231 taluka panchayats, with the Congress ahead in 33.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is headed to better its 2015 tally in the Gujarat local body polls.

As per the results received for all the municipalities till 2 pm on Tuesday, BJP captured 1,182 seats, followed by Congress (214), Independents (73), Aam Aadmi Party (2), Bahujan Samajwadi Party (2), and others (10).

In the district panchayat polls, 382 seats went to the BJP, 84 to the Congress, and one each to Independents, AAP, BSP and others.

In the tehsil polls, 1,636 seats went to the BJP, 625 to the Congress, 51 to Independents, 16 to AAP, 5 to BSP and 6 to other candidates. The AAP opened its account in the Junagadh tehsil panchayat.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that it looks like the BJP will form more than 60 municipal bodies.

There was an average of around 64 per cent polling in the local body elections held on Sunday. Voting for 8,473 seats in the municipalities, 980 seats in district panchayats and 4,773 seats in taluka panchayats took place across 36,008 booths.

Polling was held for Gujarat’s 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats which were conducted in a largely peaceful manner on Sunday.

As per the figures provided by the State Election Commission (SEC), there was 58.82 percent voter turnout across 81 municipalities, 65.80 per cent in 31 district panchayats, and 66.60 per cent in 231 taluka panchayats.

Till 1 pm on Tuesday, results of seats of Municipalities indicated 803 seats were going to the BJP, 159 to the Congress, 43 to independents, 1 to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and six to other candidates.

In the results of districts Panchayats, 246 seats have gone to the BJP, 55 to Congress, 7 to independents, whereas one has gone to the AAP.

Out of the Tehsil Panchayats results, 1036 seats of Tehsils have gone with the BJP, 388 to the Congress, one to the AAP and one to the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP).

The Junagadh Tehsil Panchayat, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has opened its account.

There was an average of around 64% polling carried out in the local body elections for municipalities, district and Tehsil Panchayats in Gujarat on Sunday. Voting for 8,473 seats in municipalities, 980 in district panchayats and 4,773 in taluka panchayats took place across 36,008 booths.

According to the State Election Commission (SEC), around 64 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the elections to Gujarat’s 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats which were held in a largely peaceful manner on Sunday.

As per the figures provided by the State Election Commission (SEC), there was 58.82 percent voter turnout across 81 municipalities, 65.80 per cent in 31 district panchayats, and 66.60 per cent in 231 taluka Panchayats.

The average voting percentage across all these local bodies together was around 63.74 per cent.

The state election commission officials said voting for 8,473 seats, comprising 2,720 in 680 wards in 81 municipalities, 980 in 31 district panchayats and 4,773 in 231 taluka panchayats took place across 36,008 booths.

Out of these seats, 237 seats remain unopposed, and no form was filled for two seats in taluka panchayat.

Elections were held on a total 8,235 seats, out of which, the BJP had fielded 8,161 candidates, Congress 7,778, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 2,090, among others, said the SEC.

Besides these, bypolls for two seats in taluka panchayats and 24 seats in municipalities, was also carried out on Sunday, where there was 47.63 per cent voter turnout in municipality by-elections and 68.65 per cent in taluka Panchayats by-elections.

Capturing six Municipal Corporations, the BJP is on a winning streak, with a vastly improved performance over its 2015 debacle in the local body elections. But this victory chariot was dented by a technicality in the Ahmedabad district Panchayats results. Despite having a majority in the body, the BJP will have to stay content with a Congress president.

Despite having a big victory across all the local bodies in the state, the BJP saw a big setback in Ahmedabad. In spite of securing a majority in the Ahmedabad district panchayat, the president of the district panchayat will have to be from the Congress, as the post of the president, district Panchayat is dedicated to an ST councillor. The Congress candidate Paruben Padhar has won the Shahpur seat of the district panchayat, a reserved seat.

However, the victory juggernaut of the BJP was blocked by a defeat through the Congress’ Hand in Dahod municipality. Kaid Chunawala, who was denied a ticket by the BJP, won on Congress ticket from Dahod Municipal Ward No. 3 for the fourth time in a row. With this, the Congress panel has won from the Dahod Municipality.

In the Rajkot district panchayat, Congress has conceded power to the BJP, as the latter won 25 out of 36 seats while Congress managed to save just 11 seats.

The BJP has also secured a majority in Mandvi municipality where it won 14 seats out of 24. The Congress won 3 seats. The counting for seven seats is still in progress. In Porbandar, the BJP has swept the polls by winning 12 seats. (IANS)