In a major setback in Gujarat, the Congress has lost control in as many as five district panchayats and several taluka panchayats and municipalities due to infighting and also the ruling BJP’s efforts to loosen the control of the Opposition party in panchayats before the parliamentary polls next year.
The party lost Ahmedabad, Patan, Mahisagar, Dahod and Bhavnagar district panchayats, which it had won in 2015 when it swept rural areas in elections to local bodies.
Elections to the posts of presidents and vice-presidents of over 200 taluka panchayats and 31 district panchayats were held on Wednesday across Gujarat after the first two-and-a-half year term ended for the office-bearers. Local bodies in Gujarat elect new heads midway through their five-year term.
Before Wednesday’s elections, the Congress was holding 23 of 31 district panchayats in the state. However, with the ruling BJP wresting Ahmedabad, Patan, Bhavnagar, Mahisagar and Dahod district panchayats, the Congress’s tally as reduced to 18.
The party has accused the ruling BJP of using money power to “buy” and “lure” its elected members.
“With the use of money and muscle power, the ruling party has bribed members to break away from the Congress,” Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda told reporters after the setback.
