SURAT: Following a nail-biting series of vote counting rounds, the BJP's candidate, Rajesh Rana, emerged victorious in the by-election of Ward No. 20 in the Surat Municipal Corporation. Rana garnered an impressive 6,493 votes, ensuring the saffron flag's continued reign over the seat.
The by-election came in the wake of the unfortunate passing of the former corporator, Jayesh Jariwala. Voting took place on August 6th, with the counting unfolding tension as Congress initially led the first two rounds. However, BJP made a triumphant comeback, leading by 35 votes after the second round and ultimately sealing the deal by the fifth.
The BJP camp was enveloped in jubilation post their victory. "Our confidence never wavered, and the people's trust has once again favored us over the Congress," expressed the newly elected Rajesh Rana, adding that their aim was to ensure no Congress councilor remained in the corporation, a goal they seem to have achieved.
While the battle was primarily between the BJP and Congress, with Congress's Shailesh Raika showing a promising start but trailing off later, the Aam Aadmi Party also threw its hat in the ring. Despite their rigorous efforts, they secured a third-place position.
Insiders credit BJP's meticulous booth management as a key factor in their win. The party's strategic deployment of councilors and diligent surveillance of each booth, combined with a series of allegations and counter-allegations, kept the election fervor high. Independent candidates also played a pivotal role, reportedly drawing votes away from Congress, which arguably eased BJP's path to triumph.
The election results underscore the political landscape of Surat and reflect the voters' trust in the prevailing leadership.
