Leaders leaving the party might be a factor in loss: Gujarat Congress chief on local polls

Ahmedabad: Reacting to the Congress’s poor performance in the local body elections, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Shaktisinh Gohil said that the setbacks may have been caused by leaders who left the party.

He praised senior leaders, workers, and candidates for contesting the elections despite what he called the BJP’s “undemocratic conspiratorial ways.” Admitting that the outcomes in Jafrabad, Lathi, and Rajula were disappointing, Gohil pointed out that municipal elections rely heavily on local leaders, and the departure of key figures like Ambrish Der, Jawahar Chavda, and Harshad Ribadiya (all former MLAs) may have contributed to the party’s losses. He also alleged that the BJP resorted to intimidation tactics in Salaya municipality but emphasized that Congress candidates still won, while none of the 12 BJP candidates succeeded.

Gohil also highlighted an improvement in Junagadh Municipal Corporation, noting that Congress had won only one seat in the previous election but secured 11 seats this time, making the results relatively better. DeshGujarat