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Gandhinagar: Are minority votes slipping away from main opposition Congress party in Gujarat?

The party lost all eight seats in Gujarat by-polls today and there are some examples that clearly indicate that minority votes slipped from Congress party’s hold.

Congress candidate lost Morbi by margin of 4,688 votes. Combined votes of three Muslim candidates who were in fray in Morbi is more than this margin. Bhatti Hushenbhai of All India Majlis-E-Inquilab-E-Millat has got 870 votes, independent Muslim candidates Movar Nijambhai Gafurbhai and Bloch Ismail Yarmahmadbhai have received 3,162 and 2,107 votes respectively. If Muslims had voted for Congress in unison, Congress coud emerge victorious in Morbi.

But even more vocal case is Abdasa, where Padhiyar Hanif Jakab, an independent Muslim candidate won 26,463 votes. Other Muslim candidates Akub Mutva from Bahujan Mukti Party received 4,983 votes while Ibrahim Halepotra had 1239 votes. The point is, significant number of Muslims choose to vote for candidates other than Congress in these by-polls. Muslims otherwise, by-and-large would do tactical voting in favor of Congress.

The Dangs in South Gujarat is tribal populated assembly seat with significant number of Christians. However the BJP is enjoying unprecedented 60,000+ lead there. It’s worth noting that Congress had fielded a Christian tribal candidate against BJP.

While Congress’s loss on all 8 seats bring tonne load of worries for party, slipping of minority votes is something which is very important take away.

In fact, the 8-seat by-polls involved seats influenced by varieties of cast and communities. Limbdi was conventionally believed a Koli community influenced seat, Abdasa – Muslim and Kshatriya influenced seat, Morbi and Dhari – Patidar influenced, Karjan and Gadhda – Dalit and Kaprada and Dang – tribal influenced seats. However BJP has received huge margin from across the class, casts and sections, it appears. DeshGujarat

In Bihar

So that's how BJP won Bihar 😁✌️ pic.twitter.com/CrHp6V3wcC

— પ્રકાશ (@Gujju_Er) November 11, 2020