BJP snatches number of taluka panchayats, municipalities from Congress across Gujarat

Mahesana: Congress party has lost power in Kalol taluka panchayat in North Gujarat after two of its elected members were detained by police in connection with offences registered against them. Another one elected member of Congress party rebelled and became a candidate for the post of the president of Taluka Panchayat. With BJP’s support she took over the position.

The term of President of taluka panchayat was to end on Wednesday and election for new office bearers was to be held. Congress party’s Babitaben Thakor (Saeej-2) had filed nomination for the post of president while Arpit Patel(Dingucha) filed nomination for the post of vice president.

In order to avoid horse trading, Congress party took its members to Swapnasrushti water park. However during the night, Police reached the resort and detained Taluka Panchayat member Narendrasinh Vaghela (Dhamasana) in atrocity case.

A complaint against Vaghela was filed in Kalol police station after a rickshaw driver Nileshkumar Boresa alleged that Vaghela hurled casteist abuse after a rickshaw of Boresa touched him. Boresa has in his complaint also claimed that Vaghela issued death threats.

Due to his arrest, Vaghela couldn’t participate in the election of new office bearers on Wednesday.

Another Congress member Sharmishtaben Patel was also at Swapnashrushti water park. When a private luxury bus was taking Congress members to Kalol, the taluka police stopped the bus and detained Sharmishtaben (Palsana) and her husband in dowry case.

Sharmishtaben was facing a complaint filed by her daughter in law Krishnaben Harshbhai Patel. Krishna and Harsh had love marriage. Krishna was living in palsana with Harsh. However later she alleged that her mother in law Sharmishthaben and father in law Ravindrabhai were harressing her and forcing her to leave home along with death threats. Based on this complaint, police arrested Sharmishthaben when she was on way to Kalol for voting in taluka panchayat election.

Two Congress members Taraben Thakor(Borisaana-1) and Kanuji Chavda(Khorajdabhi) were absent during the election.

In this scenario, Congress candidates got 10-10 votes while BJP candidates got 12-12 votes. After a long time, BJP captured Kalol taluka panchayat.

More Taluka Panchayats, Nagarpalika captured

Ruling BJP also captured various other panchayat bodies. In Satlasna taluka panchayat election, a Congress member was absent, following which BJP captured the body. BJP also captured Sidhpur and Saraswati taluka panchayats from Congress.

Congress is now in power in only two taluka panchayats in North Gujarat – Harij and Santalpur.

In Kutch, Congress lost power in Abdasa and Lakhpat taluka panchayat, inspite of having majority members.

In Saurashtra region, Congres lost Kalavad taluka panchayat as its five members voted for BJP. in Jamjodhpur, Congress’s Jashuben Rathod voted BJP and therefore Congress lost power. In Vanthli, five members of Congress remained absent and ensured BJP’s victory. in Liliya, Congress and BJP had equal strength, finally, BJP was declared victorious by lottery draw.

In municipalities, Congress lost power as two members breached whip in Bagasara. Two Congress members voted for BJP in Raval municipality paving way for BJP’s victory. In Sikka municipality, two 8 Congress members and 2 NCP members went underground and alter voted for BJP, ensuring Congress’s loss.

Congress lost taluka panchayats in Surendranagar too. DeshGujarat