The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is out of power in Delhi, still has 4 years to contest the next elections in Delhi. In such a situation, at present his main focus is on Punjab, where he has to save his government. Apart from Delhi and Punjab, AAP is also sweating heavily in Gujarat. AAP, which surprised everyone by winning 5 assembly seats in the 2022 elections, has also got success in the Panchayat elections of Gujarat. This success is so big that in one district, AAP has even won the election of District Panchayat President, whereas in the entire state, Congress has also not been able to make its President in even a single district.
AAP’s victory in the tribal dominated district Narmada has surprised everyone. This is the same district where AAP has put both Congress and BJP in tension. AAP leader Chaitra Vasava comes from this district. He has also contested the Lok Sabha elections and got good votes against BJP with the support of Congress. Now AAP is trying its best to strengthen itself in those districts including Narmada where tribals have influence or can play a decisive role.
This time BJP has won in 33 out of 34 districts of Gujarat but AAP has won in one district i.e. Narmada. In 2021, BJP won 19 out of 22 seats in this district and Congress won 2. This time AAP turned the tables by winning 15 seats and also captured the post of President. Now AAP has tried to woo women also by making Anjana Vasava the District Panchayat President and Sangeeta Talvi as the Vice President.
On this occasion, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said, ‘BJP and Congress together are looting Gujarat. Only Aam Aadmi Party is fighting for you. BJP government does not put Congress leaders in jail, it puts Chaitra Vasava in jail for raising the voice of the public. By forming AAP government in Narmada district, the tribal community has given a strong slap on the face of BJP. He alleged that where Congress did not have candidates in the Panchayat elections, BJP gave them candidates.
If we compare the Panchayat elections of 2021 to 2026, the number of candidates supporting AAP has increased by almost 10 times. AAP has also won one district panchayat and 12 taluka panchayats. It has been disappointed in Surat because last time most of its candidates lost in Surat Municipal Corporation. Despite this, she is excited because her hold seems to be getting stronger in many areas where she has not been able to win the assembly elections yet.
Of the 12 talukas that AAP has won, 3 are from Narmada, 2 from Chhota Udaipur, 2 from Junagadh and one seat each from Anand, Bharuch, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Amreli and Aravali districts. Chaitra Vasava is the MLA from Dediapada seat of Narmada district and he also got good votes in the second assembly seat Nandod in 2022.
Similarly, in Chhota Udaipur seat of Chhota Udaipur district in the year 2021, AAP candidate got more than 43 thousand votes and he was at second position. AAP was at second position in Jetpur seat and in Sankheda it was at third position with more than 18 thousand voters.
Apart from Narmada district, AAP has also won well in Amreli district. AAP has won 10 out of 16 seats in Bagsada taluka here. In the last assembly elections, AAP was second in one out of five seats in Amreli district and got good votes in two seats. In such a situation, this time’s victory shows that it still has its hold in some areas.
These figures show that except Surat, AAP has strengthened itself in the places won in 2021. In 2021, it stood second on many seats and AAP is fighting hard for those seats. Arvind Kejriwal himself is continuously visiting Gujarat and is busy meeting leaders of different sections and trying to integrate them with him. If he is a little more successful in this campaign and performs better than last time, then AAP can become a big challenge for the opposition Congress as well as the ruling BJP.
