The Congress on Thursday predicted the BJP’s defeat in the Gujarat local body elections being held in the current month against the backdrop of the Patel community’s agitation for reservation and in t
The Congress on Thursday predicted the BJP’s defeat in the Gujarat local body elections being held in the current month against the backdrop of the Patel community’s agitation for reservation and in the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Besides, the outcome of the Bihar Assembly elections would have a bearing on the Gujarat local body polls.
Although the BJP has been in power in majority of municipal corporations, municipal councils and district and taluka panchayts, the state government had tried to delay the local body elections.
AICC spokesperson and senior Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil is confident of the BJP’s defeat for a number of factors. Responding to questions, he said the Congress would be fighting the local body elections on the party symbol.
The BJP used to win elections in the state on the polarisation plank but this time, the game would be different.
Governance, anti-incumbency, infighting in the BJP and revolt by the all-powerful Patel community would go against the ruling party.
Besides, Mr Modi’s elevation from the chief minister to the Prime Minister would also create space for Opposition parties.
Polling for the six municipal corporations, 56 nagarpalikas, 31 district panchayats and 230 taluka panchayats will be held in Gujarat on November 22 and 29.
The Congress, which is the main Opposition in the state, expects to revive in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and even in Maharashtra.
In fact, recent local body elections in Maharashtra have shown that the BJP is not in a position to come to power on its own.
The message is that the Shiv Sena-BJP and the Congress-NCP could give stability and make development as seen in the Kalyan-Dombivili and Kolpahour municipal corporation elections.
