BJP ousts Congress from Gehlot’s bastion

JODHPUR: In a clean sweep, BJP dethroned Congress from Jodhpur Municipal Corporation. With this, the 15-year-long rule of Congress came to a humiliating end in the hometown of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot. BJP won in 38 out of total 65 wards of Jodhpur, whereas Congress could hardly secure its presence in 19 wards. Rest five wards went to the independent candidates, out of whom four are BJP rebels.Results of 3 wards are yet to be declared.
Taking the civic polls as a prestige issue, both BJP and Congress threw their might to win the election, wherein they were stung by rebels. While BJP roped in ministers like Gajendra Singh Khinvsar and Gulab Chand Katariaa along with MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Congress saw none less than the former chief minister Ashok Gehlot strategizing and campaigning for the party three days ahead of the polling and walking down the city roads and unveiling manifesto with same old promises.
Dedicating this victory to the people of Jodhpur and dedication of the party workers, MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said this was a mandate for development as people of Jodhpur knew that only BJP could realize their dream of development. “We will not disappoint the people and would come up with our report card after five years,” he said.
Congress, during its entire campaigning drive, kept targeting BJP government and saying that BJP failed the mandate of the people and did not do anything in the name of review of schemes and fund crunch.
But BJP kept assuring the people that there would be a flow of money for developmental works if the chain from central to city is connected. And going by the mandate, the people of Jodhpur bought this argument of the BJP.
Congress also attempted to woo the people by unveiling its manifesto with tall promises, but it proved to be like “old liquor in new bottle” and failed to impress the people. On the contrary, BJP abstained from coming out with any manifesto and stuck to the promises and dreams of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Acting president of PCC Jugal Kabra referred to the victory of BJP to it resorting to malicious and unethical practices. “Being in power, BJP misused the administrative machinery in its favour and also resorted to money and muscle power,” Kabra alleged.