Gujarat civic elections results: Celebrations begin in BJP camp

Ahmedabad: The BJP supporters began the celebrations across Ahmedabad today after the early trends of the Gujarat Civic polls showed the saffron party leading in most of the municipal corporations.

Ahmedabad Mayor and BJP leader Meenakshi Ben Patel, who won from Jodhpur seat here, said that they had fought the elections on the issue of development.

"This is the victory of the people and party workers. We fought the elections on the issue of development and that is what matters to the people," she told ANI.

She also rubbished reports of the recent Patidar agitation having an effect on the BJP's chances in the civic polls.

In 56 municipalities, results for total 524 wards show that BJP is leading on 372 seats while the Congress is leading on 295 seats.

In Ahmedabad, out of total 192 councillor seats in 18 wards, BJP is leading on 69 seats while Congress is leading on 22 seats.

More than 1,800 candidates are in the fray for 570 seats across six municipal corporations of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar.

Voting for six municipal corporations was held on November 26, while that for 31 district panchayats, 230 taluka panchayats and 56 municipalities was held on November 29.

The civic polls are important for the BJP as the party is apparently facing anti-incumbency sentiments in rural and semi-urban areas of the state.