AHMEDABAD: Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar city’s mayoral elections on Monday touched a new low with both the BJP and the Congress engaging in mild fisticuffs and even pushed each other around trading blame. Trouble began when Congress boycotted the elections when one of their councillors Ankit Barot did not turn up for voting at the general board.BJP leads with 16 members in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation general board while Congress has 15 members. Angry Congress councillors turned hostile and began accusing the BJP of “kidnapping” Barot. The latter did turn up in late afternoon claiming that he was “kidnapped” by BJP party leaders from his home. Barot said BJP officials tried to make an offer to him to stay away from the elections. Congress’s mayoral candidate Pinky Patel accused a Gandhinagar lady police officer of attacking her.“I was being taken away from Gandhinagar city till I protested. They were from BJP who had kidnapped me,” said Barot.Since Saturday, BJP’s infighting came to fore when its own councillor Jaydev Parmar complained of dengue and his inability to attend the general board. By this time BJP sources claim that a Brahmin candidate for mayor post and a Patidar candidate for standing committee post was being discussed. Two BJP councillors threatened to boycott the elections clearly giving Congress the advantage.However, on Sunday Barot’s absence raised doubts. BJP announced Rita Patel’s name for the mayor’s post and Najha Ghanghar’s name for deputy mayor’s post. Both these candidates got 16 votes each. While Congress’s candidates, Pinky Patel and Jitu Raika, got 14 votes each. The votes of the existing mayor and deputy mayor have been submitted before the high court for the final result.

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