Congress Faces Major Setback as BJP Wins 62 Municipalities, Other Parties Play Kingmaker

BJP Dominates Gujarat Local Body Elections; Congress Suffers Crushing Defeat

Gujarat, February 18, 2025: In the recently held local body elections across 66 municipalities in Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a landslide victory, winning control of 62 municipalities. In stark contrast, the Congress party managed to gain control of just one municipality, marking a significant political setback. Other political parties emerged as kingmakers in 5 municipalities.

The elections were historic, being the first to feature a 27% reservation for OBC candidates, which added a new dimension to the political landscape. Despite the changes, the BJP dominated the results, while Congress faced yet another defeat following setbacks in Delhi and Chhattisgarh.

Key Election Results:

BJP won 62 municipalities.
Congress captured only 1 municipality.
Other parties held a decisive role in 5 municipalities, playing a kingmaker role.
Voter turnout stood at 61.65%, a decrease of 3.35% compared to 2018.
The election saw contests for 66 municipalities, including mid-term elections for 2 and the Junagadh Municipal Corporation.
Chavrad Municipality witnessed a surprise loss for Congress MLA Vimal Chudasama in Ward 3.
Junagadh saw Parth Koticha, son of six-time Deputy Mayor Girish Koticha, defeated in the election.
The BJP’s sweeping victory raised questions about Congress’s future in Gujarat, where it has failed to maintain a strong political presence. Elections in municipalities like Kuthiyana and Jetpur highlighted the growing influence of regional players. With 4374 candidates vying for 1677 seats, the BJP’s performance underscored its dominance, leaving Congress with little to show in this round of local elections.