The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won big in local body elections as the seats were counted on Tuesday, 2 March, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the results an “unwavering faith and affection towards the BJP.”
According to ANI, the BJP won 1,967 seats in the nagar palika elections, Congress won 356 and AAP won 9 seats as of 5 pm. In district panchayat elections, BJP registered victory on 735 panchayats seats, Congress on 157, and AAP on 2 seats. The final tally for all the polls is yet to be declared.
Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter to thank the people of the state.
“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 (sic),” PM Modi said.
Guj Cong President Resigns After Dismal Performance
Following Congress’ dismal performance in the polls, Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda and state Congress Legislative Party leader Paresh Dhanani resigned from their posts.
“The results (local body elections) are contrary to our expectations. We accept the public mandate. I accept defeat as the party president here. We will continue to work for the people,” Chavda told ANI.
BJP President JP Nadda thanked the people of the state and said that people reposed faith in development.
“I thank the people of Gujarat for reposing their faith in BJP, a symbol of development and trust, in local body elections,” he said.
Polling took place on Sunday in 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats. There was 58.82 percent voter turnout across 81 municipalities, 65.80 percent in 31 district panchayats, and 66.60 per cent in 231 taluka panchayats.
(With inputs from ANI and IANS.)
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