Bharatiya Janata Party today won another by-election in Gujarat. Party’s candidate Bhushan Bhatt, son of late Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt has been victorious with margin of 2473 votes. Gujarat Congress had worked in its optimum capacity to ensure victory in this by-poll, thanks to which the BJP has narrowed its winning margin. Last time when late Ashok Bhatt contested the election in Khadia from BJP, his winning margin was about 9,000 votes. However, according to BJP leader and ex-Mayor Amit Shah, the lowered margin this time is due to migration of hundreds of voters from Khadia between 2007 and now. Khadia is interestingly an assembly segment that has lowest number of voters in Gujarat. When total voters are around 72,000 and voting percentage is 51%, one can only expect victory by narrow margin. BJP had anticipated its victory with margin of 2200 votes according to final assessment after polling was completed. The victory now has been achieved on expected path.

BJP workers were jubilant and chanted slogans in favor of Bhatt and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi outside Ahmedabad’s Gujarat college where counting was held in the morning.

Khadia witnessed by-election on 14 February due to death of Shri Ashok Bhatt. Bhatt was senior MLA who was elected from Khadia for number of times. He was senior minister and later Speaker of Gujarat assembly when he died. After his death, the BJP had given ticket to his son Bhushan Bhatt, a local councilor. Congress had selected Jagat Shukla as their candidate. Shukla was in past defeated by late Shri Ashok Bhatt in assembly poll here. This is second defeat of Shukla. One special feature of Khadia by-poll was that the Congress party really fought it seriously and with united teamwork. Congress roped in Mohammad Azhruddin and Gujarat actress Roma Manek on the last day of campaign. Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela had addressed several community meetings of the voters of Khadia. Senior Congress leaders including Vaghela, Siddharth Patel, Shaktisinh Gohil and Arjun Modhwadia had addressed public meetings in the course of Khadia by-poll campaign.

Bhushan Bhatt will enjoy his new status of MLA, Gujarat assembly till next general assembly poll in December 2012. Khadia will adopt new delimitation in general assembly poll of December 2012. This will merge Muslim dominated Jamalpur assembly segment into Khadia.