Nearly 48% voters exercised their franchise to seal the fate of 1,856 candidates in the six municipal corporations in Gujarat that went to polls on Sunday. The turnout was marginally higher compared to 2010 municipal corporations when then chief minister Narendra Modi's aggressive campaign resulted in complete annihilation of the Congress.
The outcome of these elections is seen as a precursor to the 2017 assembly elections as the six municipal corporations account for nearly 50 seats, mostly held by the BJP. The elections this time were widely perceived to be a Patidars vs BJP duel in wake of the four-month-long agitation by the community to demand reservation under the OBC quota.
While Patidars in violence-hit areas of Ahmedabad voted with vengeance, in Surat, surprisingly, the pre-poll threats of en masse anti-BJP voting seemed hollow considering the lower-than-average turnout in the five Patel-dominated areas. While voting in Patidar dominated areas in the six cities was not significantly higher than other wards, only results on December 2 will reveal if the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel's oust-BJP call had any electoral impact. Congress is banking on the Patel factor to regain its political significance in Gujarat.
There were 1,856 candidates in the fray, while for the first time in Gujarat, as many as 50 per cent of the seats were reserved for women. The second phase of balloting will be held on November 29 to elect 327 municipalities, taluka panchayats and district panchayats, covering a mix of urban and rural voters.
Counting would take place on December 2. Ahmedabad collector Rajkumar Beniwal said that 46.07% voting had taken place in the city. This voting percentage was by far the highest in more than two decades. Even the high-voltage civic poll campaign led by Narendra Modi in 2010 could ensure just a 44.08% voter turnout in Ahmedabad. The highest voting was witnessed in the eastern part of the city. There was massive mobilization of voters in Vastral, Amraiwadi, Indra puri, Nikol, Bapunagar, India Colony and Thakkarbapanagar and parts of Naroda as well. The highest voting was witnessed in Danilimda ward which recorded 53.61% voting. The next highest voting percentage - 53.55-was registered in Lambha. The lowest voting was in Navrangpura which registered 37.29% voter turnout. Interestingly, Danilimda is among the worst wards insofar as amenities are concerned. On the other hand Navrangpura, which saw lowest voting, is one of the poshest colonies of the city.
