As the result of Panchayat polls declare, both the major political parties in Gujarat – BJP as well as Congress started tall claims that of more than 1300 Village Panchayats, majority of their supported candidates emerged victorious.
As Village Panchayat polls are contested without party symbol, officially it becomes extremely difficult to make out which party’s candidates won the elections. Of nearly 14000 village panchayats in Gujarat, hardly one tenth went to polls, but it became interesting as it was the first major election post 2017 assembly polls that won by BJP by thin margin.
BJP which is ruling the State since the year 1995 could retain power due to urban votes in the assembly elections that was held in the second half of December 2017. Out of 182 assembly seats, the saffron brigade could win 99, while opposition Congress won 77.
Citing assembly polls’ voting pattern, the Gujarat Congress leaders say that more than 70 per cent Congress supported candidates won in recently concluded Panchayat polls. They also claimed that rural voters were unhappy over unavailability of Narmada water for irrigation, cut in power of Sarpanches and inadequate agro-prices.
On the other hand Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani went on to say that more than 80 per cent BJP supported candidates won elections. As grants are being released under central and State Governments schemes people in villages started reaping its fruits, says Vaghani adding that beneficiaries under various schemes are getting benefits under different schemes directly in their accounts and hence funds are reaching to right people. According to him villagers were happy with BJP ruled governments in state as well as at the centre.