Rajkot: Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) elections may finally take place sometime in February. With Rajkot being chief minister Vijay Rupani’s home town, the ruling BJP didn’t want to take any chances in its target of winning maximum number of seats in the civic body. According to party sources, this will be the first civic polls in Rajkot after Rupani became the CM.
In a run up to the hustings, Rupani, who is in Rajkot for the past two days, went on a inauguration spree on Friday launching nearly 100 small and micro projects of RMC and Rajkot Urban Development Authority (RUDA) in a single day. If sources can be quoted, the foundation laying efforts are aimed at strengthening the ruling party’s stronghold on the ballot, while the speed is owing to close the chapters before the model code of conduct comes into force.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated two projects virtually — the much-touted AIIMS Rajkot and an affordable housing project — in the last two days.
The small works inaugurated on Friday include the electric bus depot near Amul circle, new roads in various areas, engineering projects, storm water pipeline projects among others. CM also dedicated the aquatic weed harvester machine to remove underwater weeds in Aji river, which will take care of the mosquito menace in Rajkot market yard and also soothe tempers of the trading community there.
Amrapali underpass work completed
Amrapali underpass is expected to be inaugurated in next two weeks, as announced by the RMC last month. The project has been completed four months before the deadline. According to sources, this is BJP’s stronghold area and a road closed down for construction work for long may have damaged BJP’s chances in the election.
Newly merged area will help BJP
RMC has 78 seats, of which Congress got 34 in 2015 election. This was because of the Patidar agitation in the state. This time, while the rival party is again trying to repeat its 2015 performance, sources claim that the newly merged villages like Ghanteshvar, Munjka, Mota Mauva and Madhapar will work to boost BJP. Vashram Sagathiya, who was leader of opposition in RMC said, “The BJP is busy in inaugurating development projects but we have list that they have completed only 33 percent work out of total budget announcement. We will go to voters with the lists of work which are promised more then one time and still not started.”