CM Bhupendra Patel, deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi and state BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma celebrate after the win in Gandhinagar Tuesday
Gandhinagar : BJP retained control of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC), winning 38 of the 44 seats in the state capital’s civic body election, but fell short of its 2021 tally of 41 seats. BJP garnered 56.46% of the vote share (3,08,672 votes), compared to a vote share of 46.49% in 2021. Congress secured a vote share of 36.93% (2,01,913 votes) compared to a vote share of 28.02% in 2021. The vote share of AAP, which was 21.77% in 2021, plummeted a massive 17.40% to 4.37% (23,894 votes). Independents had a vote share of 1.75% (9573 votes) while Bahujan Samaj party secured a vote share of 0.16% (875 votes). In Thara, in Banaskantha district, the party won 19 of the 24 seats, with Congress securing five. In Okha, in Devbhumi Dwarka district, BJP bagged 29 of the 32 seats, while Congress won three. In the first election after the civic body was formed, in 2011, Congress won 18 seats against BJP’s 15. In 2016, the two parties were tied at 16 seats each. BJP subsequently registered landslide victories in 2021 and 2026, although its latest tally was three seats lower than its previous performance.
“Heartiest congratulations to all victorious candidates and dedicated party workers on their victory in the local self-government elections including the GMC and Okha and Thara municipalities,” Patel posted on X. Sanghavi said, “The mandate of public support received by BJP in the elections held for various places including Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation demonstrates the trust of the people in the Bharatiya Janata Party. Congress improved its performance by winning five seats, while an independent candidate secured one seat. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) failed to open its account. Both BJP and Congress gained vote shares at the cost of AAP in the election. BJP also retained the Thara and Okha municipalities. Party workers exchanged sweets as firecrackers were burst and drums beaten to mark the victory.
The GMC carries a prestige tag as the civic body in the state capital catering to babus, ministers and govt employees and has historically seen a tougher fight between BJP and Congress. Chief minister Bhupendra Patel , deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi and state BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma led celebrations at the party headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.