BJP Sweeps Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Elections; Congress Faced with Leadership Crisis

In the recent elections to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the BJP scored a landslide victory. The BJP captured 160 seats out of a total of 192, while the Congress was reduced to only 32 seats. As a result, the BJP's dominance in the city's politics has become stronger. However, the biggest concern for the Congress is not just the defeat, but the internal developments within the party. After the election results, there is now a strong tussle for the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Lobbying for leadership is intensifying among 18 Muslim and 14 Hindu members of the party's elected corporators. The Congress has managed to retain its traditional vote bank in some areas of the city such as Gomtipur, Maktampura, Danilimda, Behrampura and Dariyapur. However, the Congress has failed to mount a strong challenge to the BJP across the city. The main contest for the post of Leader of the Opposition is between former Leader of the Opposition Shehzad Pathan and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Nirav Bakshi.