BJP wins 15 municipal corporations in Gujarat, makes clean sweep in Morbi, Porbandar

As per the State Election Commission, the ruling party also won the municipal corporations of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Gandhidham, Surendranagar, Mehsana, Anand, Nadiad, Navsari and Vapi. The BJP secured 65 out of total 72 seats in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation while Congress won 7.

The BJP on Tuesday emerged victorious in all 15 municipal corporations where elections were held on April 26, officials said. The party made a clean sweep in Morbi and Porbandar Municipal Corporations, bagging all 52 seats in both the local bodies. Of the 17 municipal corporations in the state, elections were held in 15. The term of the remaining two corporations is yet to expire. As per the State Election Commission, the ruling party also won the municipal corporations of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Gandhidham, Surendranagar, Mehsana, Anand, Nadiad, Navsari and Vapi. In Ahmedabad, the BJP bagged 160 seats out of the total 192, while Congress won 32. In the previous March 2021 elections, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) had won seven seats in the city, but this time it drew a blank. In Surat Municipal Corporation, the BJP won 115 out of 120 seats, while Congress won only one seat. The Aam Aadmi Party, which had won 27 seats last time, managed to win only four. The BJP secured 65 out of total 72 seats in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation while Congress won 7. In Vadodara Municipal Corporation, the BJP won 69 out of 76 seats while Congress won 6 and another candidate secured one. The saffron party also won the muncipal corporations of Jamnagar and Bhavnagar with huge margins. The BJP lost only one seat each in Surendranagar and Nadiad corporations. All newly formed municipal corporations -- Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Porbandar and Surendranagar -- where polling was conducted for the first time witnessed BJP's victory. Vote counting began on Tuesday morning amid tight security. Polling for 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats was held on Sunday. More than 4.18 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise. The elections were held under revised norms for Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations, which required extensive delimitation and ward restructuring in several districts.