Gandhinagar/Porbandar, 14 June 2013

This will be the third test for Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia in 8 months. After losing Porbandar assembly election last year, and Porbandar Lok Sabha seat by-election recently, Modhwadia will face another test next month, as the state election commission has today declared mid-term poll of Porbandar municipality.

The mid-term poll of Porbandar Municipality shall be held on 7 July 2013. The notification will be issued on 17 June, final date of filing nominations shall be 22 June. After scrutiny of forms on 24 June and final date of withdrawal of nominations on 25 June, the election shall be held on Sunday, 7 July during 8.00 am and 5.00 pm. If needed the re-poll shall be held on 8 July. Counting will take place on 9 July 2013.

Porbandar assembly seat was represented by Gujarat Congress President Arjun Modhwadia in assembly till last December. Later in general elections of assembly, Modhwadia was defeated by Babu Bokhiria, who is now only cabinet minister from Saurashtra region in Narendra Modi’s ministry.

The last elections of Porbandar municipality delivered strange verdict! There were total 42 seats. BJP and Congress both won same number of seats. Congress was successful in getting the power through manipulations, but the civic body couldn’t pass budget due to lack of actual majority. This happened thrice, and therefore Gujarat government’s Urban development department had to suspersed the body. The decision was challenged by Congress unit in the high court. Following the High Court order Following the High Court order, the Urban development ministry called all Municipal Councillors to Gandhinagar for hearing on 18 January this year, but Congress men sought more time and therefore a new date was fixed as 31st January.

BJP alleged that Congress party was obstructing the development of Porbandar by delaying the Municipality election.

It is interesting to know that between March 2012 and February 2013, no one was ruling the Porbandar Municipality. Cleaning staff was not given monthly payment and therefore streets were stinking.

After a brief rule of officers, the town will now see local election. After winning the assembly polls and Lok Sabha by-poll, local unit of BJP is confident to get clear majority this time.

With Porbandar Municipality, 10 seats of 9 Municipalities(Bhabhar, Chalala, Bhachau, Dholka, Viramgam, Upleta, Ankleshwar, Patdi, Una) across Gujarat will witness bypoll on 7 July, 2013. Before this, on 30th June the state election commission will organize bypolls of vacant district panchayat seats across the state.