This story is from December 12, 2018

Poll results stun Gujarat BJP

Scenes Of Jubilation At Congress Offices
Poll results stun Gujarat BJP
Gujarat BJP’s top brass avoided the media on Tuesday
GANDHINAGAR: The BJP’s total flop show in the elections to five states and the loss of governments in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh sent a shockwave through the Gujarat BJP.
Everyone from booth-level workers to the chief minister Vijay Rupani and Gujarat unit president Jitu Vaghani have come under intense pressure. The Gujarat BJP’s top brass literally avoided appearing before the media on Tuesday after the results started a showing negative trend for the BJP in all the states.
Not a single senior leader from the BJP, who usually come out to celebrate victories in even panchayat elections came to the party’s headquarters, Kamalam, near Gandhinagar.
CM Vijay Rupani was at his office at Swarnim Sankul, but morale was visibly very low. Though it was MP/MLA day, very few BJP MPs/MLAs visited Gandhinagar. Surprisingly, there were even very few visitors at Swarnim Sankul I and II.
In contrast, after a long time quiet, the Congress cadre was jubilant not only at the state party headquarters, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Ahmedabad, but across the state. Party workers held motorcycle rallies at a number of places and celebrated with firecrackers and sweets. Kuvarji Bavaliya, the former Congress MLA and MP who defected to the BJP six months ago and was made a cabinet minister within four hours, is facing a tough time with the byelection from his Jasdan seat, voting for which is scheduled for December 20.
Though the state BJP tried putting on a brave face, the state leadership is terribly upset at the results in the five states. A senior BJP leader said, “Of course this is matter of great concern. If this pattern continues in the Jasdan byelection and the Lok Sabha elections, the party will be in great trouble.”
Amit Chavda, the Gujarat Congress president said, “The results of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are not only a clear verdict against the local BJP governments but also points to major anti-incumbency against the BJP-led central government. This pattern will continue in the Jasdan byelections and the Lok Sabha elections too.”
Gujarat BJP spokesman Bharat Pandya said, “Despite the anti-incumbency factor in Madhya Pradesh, we did far better than the Congress and other parties were claiming. In Rajasthan, there is a usually a change of guard, but despite claims that BJP would win just 30 or 40 seats, we did much better. The Chhattisgarh results are disturbing. Voters have different thought processes in assembly and Lok Sabha elections.”
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA