The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a massive victory in the Morbi Municipal Corporation elections, results for which were declared on Tuesday. The BJP won 45 out of the total 52 seats, consolidating its hold on the civic body in the wake of the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy that had put the administration under scrutiny.
BJP Dominates Morbi Civic Polls
According to the official results, the BJP bagged 45 seats, while the Congress managed to win only 5 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and independents secured one seat each. The election was seen as a litmus test for the ruling party after the October 2022 bridge collapse that killed 135 people. The Morbi Municipal Corporation was under the control of the BJP before the elections, and the party has retained power with an increased majority.
Key Highlights
- BJP wins 45 out of 52 seats in Morbi Municipal Corporation.
- Congress gets 5 seats, AAP and independents get 1 each.
- Voter turnout was recorded at 62.3 percent.
- The election was held in a single phase on April 26.
Political Reactions
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel thanked the voters for reposing faith in the BJP. "The victory in Morbi shows that people are with us and trust our development agenda," he said. Congress leaders expressed disappointment but said they would analyze the results. AAP, which had hoped to make inroads, failed to open its account in most wards.
Background
The Morbi municipal polls were being closely watched as the first major electoral test for the BJP after the bridge collapse. The opposition had accused the ruling party of negligence. However, the results indicate that the BJP's welfare schemes and local development work resonated with the voters. The counting of votes began at 8 am on Tuesday and continued till late afternoon. The results for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and other local bodies were also declared on the same day.
