The Congress has lost ground to the BJP in recently-held taluka and panchayat polls. BJP snatched 5 out of 23 district panchayats that the Congress had won in 2015. The saffron party also wrested control of 10 taluka panchayats controlled by the Congress.Out of 30 district panchayats that went to polls, BJP now has a tally of 12 against 18 of Congress. Election in Dang district panchayat has been postponed. Following the loss, Congress has suspended 32 members of five district panchayats that defected to BJP. Blaming the BJP’s “money and muscle power”, Gujarat Congress chief Amit Chavda claimed the ruling party paid Rs 25 lakh to Rs 2 crore per defection to wrest or retain power in panchayats.Congress, which controlled 129 taluka panchayats, lost control of 31 to BJP while gaining power in 21. Effectively, its tally reduced by 10. Result of 21 taluka panchayats are yet to be declared while five have approached the court. As of Wednesday, Congress tally stands at 105 compared to BJP’s 98.Taking a jibe at the BJP during a press conference, Chavda said the party could not achieve Amit Shah’s target of garnering 50% of district and taluka panchayats. He said despite using administrative machinery, money and muscle the BJP could not gain more than five district panchayats. He claimed the BJP hand was evident in pressurising the electoral officer in getting the Dang district panchayat election cancelled.However, losing out the Ahmedabad district panchayat was the biggest shocker for the Congress. Six of its members, under the leadership of standing committee chairman Manuji Thakor, defected to BJP reducing Congress strength to 12. BJP took the President and Vice President’s post with a tally of 22. Congress insiders blamed Alpesh Thakor and his father for the debacle as they insisted on their candidate for the President’s post.When asked whether Alpesh Thakor had any role to play in it, GPCC chief Amit Chavda said: “Party never succumbs to an individual’s pressure. It was party decision to filed Amarsinh after observers’ recommendation. Some elements are defaming the party for vested interests. We have sacked them, including 6 from Ahmedabad, Vadodara (3), Dahod (9), Patan (8), Mahisagar (3) and Bhavnagar (3).”Alpesh Thakor told Mirror: “Why should I be blamed for the party decision? Manuji Thakor has enjoyed several positions including the standing committee chairman while his wife has been president of taluka panchayat. My father also played role in his ascent. He should have put aside personal ambitions for sake of party’s interests.”BJP on Wednesday claimed victory in 13 out of 31district panchayats and 114 out of 200 taluka panchayats that went to polls. State BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said: “Congress believed in corruption and not development of local selfgovernment institutions. We have won in areas dominated by farmers, tribals and OBCs which portends well for the party. Our tally has now reached 13 in district panchayats and 114 in taluka panchayats.” He claimed the party wrested control of 28 taluka panchayats from the Congress.

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