Rajkot, India - In an unprecedented move, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation has stripped the Congress party of its opposition seat for the first time in the organization's 50-year history. The last time Congress ruled the corporation was in 2005. In response to losing their opposition post, Congress has stated that they will continue to listen to the public's questions by holding meetings in local gardens.
Government facilities, including official posts, vehicles, and offices, were withdrawn from Congress leaders on Wednesday. Bhanuben Sorani, a Congress leader, subsequently returned all facilities and keys to the department. This development follows a similar incident in the Junagadh Municipal Corporation, where the opposition position was also taken away from Congress.
The Rajkot Corporation currently has 68 BJP corporators, two Congress, and two AAP corporators. Congress leader Ashok Dangar criticized the decision, saying that the party would continue to address the public's concerns even if they had to do so in public gardens. Mahesh Rajput, another Congress leader, argued that this move is an attempt to suppress democracy.
Prior to the assembly elections, two Congress corporators joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). In the March-April 2021 corporation elections, 68 BJP councilors and four Congress councilors were elected. Despite their small number, Congress was initially given the post of Leader of the Opposition. The recent decision to remove the opposition post in Junagadh Municipal Corporation was met with strong resistance from the Congress party.
