Well before the much-awaited general elections in 2014, BJP’s new Campaign Committee chief Narendra Modi is developing winning habit. In a span of just six months, the BJP won back to back three elections in Gujarat, ranging from panchayat, Assembly and lok Sabha with thumping majority.
The latest came on Tuesday as the saffron party won 15 seats out of 22 in panchayat bypolls to further marginalise archrival Congress in the State. Increasing stronghold of the BJP in every level of elected body would have great impact on upcoming lok Sabha elections next year.
Just last month, the BJP pocketed all six seats in a by-election of four Assembly and two lok Sabha seats all previously with Congress. Again history repeated as of the 22 seats in panchayat bypolls, the Congress had won 17 seats. However, the result changed entire equation as the Congress reduced to just seven seats.
The last Assembly election of Gujarat in 2012 December made Modi first Chief Minister of Gujarat to register hat-trick by winning three consecutive elections.
“The panchayat by-elections were held at 14 districts which were considered as litmus test for the Modi Government’s popularity in rural parts of Gujarat. The outcome suggests that the voters in rural areas prefer the BJP over any other party,” said elated Gujarat BJP president RC Faldu.
Of the 27 district panchayats in Gujarat, the saffron party has 25 while the Congress is ruling only two district panchayats that of Gandhinagar and Tapi districts.