Gandhinagar: Gujarat BJP today claimed major victory of candidates supported by party in statewide gram panchayat polls, results of which are coming out today. The party claimed victory of its supporters in over 80% villages that went to polls.

State BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said, “today’s results display support to politics of rural development and centre’s demonetization move. This was second local poll season in Gujarat post demonetization move. Even on earlier occasion BJP won 109 of 125 seats”.

He said as many as 1407 villages elected Sarpanchs uncontested and therefore had ‘Samras’ body. Congress has always tried to fail the concept of Samras floated by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, it can be clearly said that Congress lost 1407 gram panchayats even before polling took place.

Pandya said today’s results show people’s support to both the governments – Shri Modi led govt in centre and fast-track government in Gujarat led by Shri Rupani.

Pandya said 80.12% turnout in Gram Panchayat elections was people’s response to Congress party’s cry over demonetization move. Approximately 1.23 crore people cast their votes. The verdict which is out today has decided the direction of year 2017 general polls of Gujarat assembly. People have rejected negativity displayed by Congress party.

He said BJP will call convention of Sarpanchs in upcoming days.

Pandya pointed out that then Chief Minister Modi had called Sarpanchs of all villages to Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar and gave them respect. He also pointed out that BJP govt had given direct grants to villages under Gokul gram, Samras gram, Tirth gram, Adarsh gram, Nirmal gram, Egram initiatives. The BJP govt in centre has declared Rs 80 lakh grant to each village, he added and also said that weightage was given to panchayat and rural development in budget.

DeshGujarat