Gujarat local body poll results reflect pattern against BJP: Congress

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Congress was already leading in 2,200 of 4,800 block and panchayat samitis

The Congress on Wednesday said the results of the local body polls in Gujarat were a clear continuation of the pattern witnessed during the assembly elections in Delhi and Bihar, where the BJP was routed.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters here that the Congress was already leading in 2,200 of 4,800 block and panchayat samitis.

The party also won 21 of 31 district panchayats in the state.

Singhvi said his party won in Chief Minister Anandiben Patel's taluka.

"This is a trend, a particular pattern. We are seeing now a clear continuation of pattern whether (it is) Delhi, Bihar and Gujarat," Singhvi said.

He said that though the party lost six municipal corporations, it had improved its performance.

He said the party had complained about deletion of voters prior to the polls.

"If you analyse in terms of assembly seats, a very large number of taluka, panchayat seats have gone in our favour," he said, adding that the outcome was a matter of joy and satisfaction for the party.

This was the first popularity test since Anandiben Patel took charge of Gujarat last year after then chief minister Narendra Modi shifted to Delhi as prime minister.

It was also the first election in the state in the wake of protest by the Patel community for quota in jobs and education.