The BJP is in a celebration moment. At a time when vast majority of country’s population are facing severe hardships at banks due to Prime Minister Naerndra Moid’s `infamous’ demonetization move, its `unexpected’ success in local polls helped the party to put a brave face making it a symbol of public support to its move.
However, political observers says these results indicating deep rooted leadership crisis prevailed in Congress, more than public continuing support to Narendra Modi moves. Incidentally, no Congress leader at AICC headquarter till now dare to react on outcome of these results.
BJP leaders said to be not expected the sweep it did in the local body elections held across 16 districts of Gujarat, given that it was the first after the demonetisation announcement and the party had been jittery. It won 109 of the 126 seats across district and taluka panchayats and municipalities in Gujarat. Even during Narendra Modi’s regime in the state the party fails to win such large number of seats.
In Maharashtra, with the government introducing direct elections for the post of president in the 147 municipal councils, the BJP won 52 seats, Shiv Sena 23, Congress 19, NCP 16 and others 28.The BJP has surged ahead in elections for the 3,510 municipal council member seats, held on party lines, in the Congress-NCP bastions, especially in western Maharashtra. The party-wise tally: BJP (851), Shiv Sena (514), NCP (638), Congress (643), MNS (16), BSP (9), CPM (12), local coalitions (384), Independents (324), unrecognised members (119).
Prime Minister said the BJP’s performance+ in parliamentary, assembly and local polls across India over the last few days illustrates that people want all-round progress+ and will not tolerate corruption and misgovernance.
BJP chief Amit Shah was more joyous and said that while opposition is organising Bharat bandh and Akrosh Divas, everywhere BJP posted unprecedented victory. People are with the government’s decision on demonetization, he added. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the BJP’s victory in the municipal council polls in the state a tsunami. “This (victory) is not merely a wave. This is a tsunami,” he added.
