The Congress on Wednesday made considerable gains in rural and semi-urban areas in Gujarat’s local body polls although the ruling BJP retained all six municipal corporations.
The Bharatiya Janata Party won control over the Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Ahmedabad municipal corporations in the elections which took place on 22 and 29 November.
However, the saffron brigade had reasons to worry as it won the Rajkot municipal corporation by just one seat.
In the semi-urban and rural areas with a total of 31 district panchayats, the Congress won in 21 places and the BJP in 10. In 2010, the BJP had bagged 30 district panchayats and the Congress only one.
This was the first popularity test since Anandiben Patel took charge of Gujarat last year after then chief minister Narendra Modi shifted to Delhi as the prime minister.
There was a setback for BJP as Congress registered a significant victory in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s native district, Mehsana.
It was also the first election in the state in the wake of Patel community protests demanding job and education quotas.
Buoyed by this electoral success ahead of 2017 assembly elections, the Congress supporters were quick to celebrate their victory on social media. Within minutes of results being announced, Congress supporters launched a new twitter trend #CongSweepsRuralGujarat.
Here is a glimpse to twitter conversation on this subject;
As RG said hear people's voice#CongSweepsRuralGujarat
— Dr.Tanima Dutta (@DrTanimaDutta) December 2, 2015
Those who talked about CongressMuktBharat change it to BJPMuktGujarat. Where are you all Bhakts.#CongSweepsRuralGujarat
— Bishnu (@Bishnu467) December 2, 2015
In Modi's home district Mehsana Cong got 67% votes how intolerant Mehsana resident #CongSweepsRuralGujarat
— Aniruddha Rathod (@AniruddhaRR) December 2, 2015
Prime Minister with 74% by survey and #CongSweepsRuralGujarat by voters, judge for yourself
— rajennair (@rajennair) December 2, 2015
Lol bhakts are saying #CongSweepsRuralGujarat coz they are not literate.Kerala with 100% literacy rejected you in the pink of your health.
— Scotchy (@scotchism) December 2, 2015
BJP Gujarat Rural me haaregi aur Patake Pakistan me jaalenge! Can you hear Crackers go off in Pakistan?#CongSweepsRuralGujarat
— ? Tanveer Ahmed ✋ (@tanveer1729) December 2, 2015
I m happy that our strategy hs worked well in Gujarat & registered a very significant presence in PMs home State.#CongSweepsRuralGujarat
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) December 2, 2015