What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Some key constituencies were responsible for the landslide victory. We unpack what went into clinching these key seats.
Bharatiya Janata Party swept the Gujarat polls securing its seventh consecutive term in the state with a historic tally of 157 seats. Some key constituencies were responsible for the landslide victory. We unpack what went into clinching these key seats.
Ghatlodia –This is the constituency of chief minister Bhupendra Patel. The CM has had a terrific winning streak from this constituency. In 2017, he won with a margin of 1.17 lakh of votes. This time from the same constituency defeating Congress’ Amee Yajnik with a margin of almost 2 lakh of votes. The seat has given Gujarat another CM – Anandiben Patel, who is currently the governor of Uttar Pradesh.
Majura- This is the seat from where State Home Minister and popular young face of BJP Harsh Sanghvi contested and won with a handsome margin defeating Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) PVS Sarma by 1.16 lakhs of votes.
Viramgam – Hardik Patel the face of 2017 Patidar movement who joined BJP this year and was given ticket from Viramgam constituency won with a margin of over 50,000 votes defeating new entrant Amar Singh Thakor from AAP and incumbent Lakhabhai Bharwad from Congress. Viramgam seat is considered immune to caste politics as leaders from different castes and religions, including a minority community, have represented it so far. Hardik Patel went to the people with the vision of Narendra Modi that helped him build trust among people.
Jhagadia – The BJP added another feather on its hat registering its first ever win in tribal dominated Jhagadia. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday registered its first-ever victory in Gujarat’s Jhagadia Assembly seat, where its candidate Ritesh Vasava defeated heavyweight tribal leader and seven-time MLA Chhotubhai Vasava by 23,500 votes. The win is also reflective of the Prime Minister’s thrust on empowering tribals. “This shift of Tribals is huge and we thank our Tribal Voters for trusting policies, initiatives and intent of the Double Engine Government led by PM Narendra Modi,” said Zubin Ashara – Gujarat State Media incharge.
Vatva – An urban seat, Vatva is a safe seat for BJP. But this time around the party was dealing with in-fightings and internal protests here as BJP did not give ticket to incumbent MLA and former Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja. But BJP’s Babu Singh Jadhav won with 64.09 per cent of vote share defeating Congress’ Balvantsinh Gadhavi.
In Bhavnagar Rural constituency prominent Koli leader Parshottam Solanki known as ‘Bhai’ defeated his Congress rival Revatsinh Gohil by 73484 votes making a sixth straight win as MLA. The former Minister has been winning this seat since the time it came into existence in 2012 after delimitation.
Godhra – BJP retained its seat even after furore over the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case raised questions about the return of the saffron party. BJPhad fielded C K Raulji who has been representing Godhra for the Congress since 2007. He had switched sides to the BJP in 2017 and had managed to win the seat with a margin of just 258 votes. This time he increased his victory margin to 35,198 votes.
Kutch district has six Assembly constituencies – Abdasa, Bhuj, Rapar – all bordering Pakistan – and Mandvi, Anjar and Gandhidham. The district has around 16 lakh voters. All six seats were won by BJP. The Kutch Branch Canal that brings Narmada water from Sardar Sarovar Dam to parched Kutch played a huge role in helping BJP clinch all seats here. Tourism has played a role in increasing BJP’s popularity here. Even Muslims in Kutch have voted for Modi. Despite a substantial Muslim population AIMIM and Congress failed to impress in these seats.
