Gandhinagar: The ruling BJP retained Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation by winning 38 of the 44 seats. While Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) drew a blank, Congress increased its tally to five from two seats last time, leaving one seat for an independent candidate.
BJP had, however, seen an erosion of three seats compared to the 2021 election. This election saw BJP workers allegedly tearing Congress posters and Congress' lone Lok Sabha MP from Gujarat, Geniben Thakore, challenging BJP to touch party posters in daytime.
An FIR was filed against Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani on Sunday at Pethapur for obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, unlawful assembly and rioting when he arrived at Pethapur police station with his supporters after the police had summoned Yunus Parmar, the Congress candidate from Ward No.4 for questioning following a complaint that he and his supporters had threatened a BJP worker.
While BJP has registered a decisive win, Congress' aggressive campaign was very visible this time.
BJP Gujarat president Jagdish Vishwakarma took to social media to celebrate the win and posted: "The support received by BJP in the local elections, including Gandhinagar, is a reflection of the unbreakable trust with the people and the resolve for development."
"Giving a fitting rebuff to political opportunism, the people have expressed unwavering faith in development and good governance. Heartfelt thanks to the people of Gujarat...," he added.
Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has been a BJP stronghold since the last three elections. While Congress had won in the first-ever election in 2011 bagging 18 of the total 33 seats, in the second election in 2016 both BJP and Congress had won 16 each out of 32 and BJP won through a lottery. In 2021, BJP had bagged 41 out of 44 leaving only two seats for Congress.