BJP workers celebrate victory in Gujarat civic polls. BJP workers celebrate victory in Gujarat civic polls.

After shining in the Maharashtra civic polls, the BJP on Tuesday won the municipal and district panchayat elections in Gujarat. Out of 123 municipal and district panchayat seats in 16 districts to which by-elections were held, the BJP has won 107, while Congress could win just 16 seats. The party won in two municipalities and one taluka panchayat along with majority seats of various other local bodies on which voting was held on Sunday. The victory in Maharashtra and Gujarat came as a relief for the BJP as the polls were seen as a litmus test for the party post demonetisation drive by the government.

As per the final result declared by the Gujarat State Election Commission, BJP has registered victory in Vapi municipality of Valsad district by capturing 41 out of total 44 seats. Only three seats went to Congress. Vapi municipality was earlier held by BJP.

Similarly, BJP made a near clean sweep in the polls to Kanakpur-Kansad municipality of Surat, where it captured 27 out of 28 seats, leaving only one to Congress. It was also held by BJP earlier.

In Rajkot, BJP snatched Gondal taluka panchayat, which went for mid-term poll, from Congress by winning 18 out of total 22 seats. Congress settled for only four. Earlier, Congress was ruling Gondal taluka panchayat.

The results of the local bodies elections assume significance for the BJP in the run up to the state polls next year, and that they were held just after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the Centre.

Apart from these three elections, Gujarat SEC conducted by-elections on 29 seats of various municipalities, taluka panchayats and district panchayats across the state. The bypolls were necessitated as these seats fell vacant due to various reasons.

Out of total 16 seats of different municipalities, BJP bagged 14 while Congress has to settle for only two. Out of the total four seats of district panchayats, both the parties bagged two each. In the taluka panchayat by-polls, BJP won on five out of total nine while Congress captured four seats.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the party for its brilliant show in the Gujarat civic polls and thanked the people for showing trust in the party. In a series of tweets, Modi said the result illustrates that people stand for all-round progress of the nation and against corruption.

Congratulations to @BJP4Gujarat Karyakartas, CM @vijayrupanibjp & @jitu_vaghani for their hardwork work across the state. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2016

I salute people of Gujarat for continued trust in BJP. BJP’s great win in local polls shows people’s strong faith in development politics. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2016

Be it the Northeast, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat…BJP has performed very well. I thank the people. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2016

These results across India illustrate that people want all-round progress of the nation & will not tolerate corruption & misgovernance. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2016

Reacting to the polls results, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the results indicate that the extreme steps taken by the prime minister like surgical strike and demonetisation have worked. Taking a potshot at Congress over the results, Gujarat BJP’s media convener Harshad Patel said the result has once again proved that the entire state is with BJP.

“Regular as well as by-polls were held in different parts of Gujarat. Right from Vapi in south Gujarat to Gondal in Saurashtra region, people have chosen BJP over Congress. The opposition party should now understand that people are really unhappy with them,” Patel said.

Gujarat Congress conceded its defeat and vowed to work hard for the people. “We accept our defeat. BJP must not forget that it was only by-polls on some seats. Congress has always raised issues concerning people like notes ban and we will continue to do so,” Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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