Panchayat polls: Mixed results for BJP, Cong

Both BJP and Congress came out bruised in the district and taluka panchayat elections of February 17, result of which was declared on Tuesday.

While the BJP won nine out of 15 taluka panchayats, Congress won the two district panchayats of Banaskantha and Kheda, according to figures announced by the State Election Commission.

State BJP spokesman I K Jadeja claimed BJP had wrested five taluka panchayats in Banaskantha district from Congress, besides winning 18 of the 31 seats in Gandhinagar taluka panchayat.

In Banaskantha district panchayat, Jadeja said, BJP had improved its tally from 18 to 26.

Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhwadia thanked the voters of Bhachau, where repolling was held on February 18 after complaints of tampering with EVMs. "Despite EVM-tampering and threats by BJP in Bhachau, the people have given a fitting reply to the BJP," he said, adding that in Kheda district panchayat, Congress had ended 18-year rule of BJP.

According to the SEC, of the 41 seats in Kheda district panchayat, BJP won 18 while Congress won 22, thus capturing the panchayat where one seat has also gone to an Independent candidate.

In Banaskantha district, Congress retained the panchayat body by winning 28 out of the total 54 seats.

BJP won 26. Re-election has been announced on one seat because of the death of a candidate.

In all, of the total 95 seats in two district panchayats, BJP got 44 seats and Congress 50. One seat went to an Independent candidate.

Of the 15 taluka panchayats that went to polls, Dantiwada panchayat remained hung as both parties won an equal number of seats.

Of the total 348 seats of taluka panchayats that went to polls, BJP won 187 seats while Congress won 154. Seven seats went to Independents.

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