In the urban areas, BJP has won 43 out of the 55 seats, stamping its supremacy, including in the Surat region where the Congress had hoped to do better given the unhappiness over the Goods and Services Tax. PTI photo.
In the urban areas, BJP has won 43 out of the 55 seats, stamping its supremacy, including in the Surat region where the Congress had hoped to do better given the unhappiness over the Goods and Services Tax. PTI photo.
Congress' biggest gains in the Gujarat assembly elections came from rural regions where it reaped the benefits of the agrarian anger against the Modi government. However, it failed to make a dent in the BJP strongholds in urban areas.
The BJP emerged victorious in 54 seats in rural areas, while the Congress won 67 in the largely urbanised industrial state. The BJP also managed to hold on the tribal seats.
A Congress leader said the agrarian distress in Gujarat, where 49% of the population cite agriculture as the primary profession, and the "anti-farmer policies of the Modi government" brought voters closer to the Congress.
In the urban areas, BJP has won 43 out of the 55 seats, stamping its supremacy, including in the Surat region where the Congress had hoped to do better given the unhappiness over the Goods and Services Tax.
AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot said the alleged misuse of central investigative agencies such as CBI, ED and Income Tax ensured that the voting pattern in urban areas remained the same as last elections as far as urban areas were concerned.
Patidar non-effect
The results in Surat, a diamond and textile hub that was the focus of the Congress campaign, voted in favour of the BJP. The Congress could win only one of the 16 seats in the Patidaar community dominated district, which was the epicentre of the anti-GST protests.
Patidaar leader Hardik Patel received massive support in Surat, where Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh held several meetings to turn the voters to their side.