BJP sweeps Gujarat civic polls as Congress falters; AAP makes inroads in Saurashtra

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again demonstrated its formidable grip over Gujarat’s local governance, registering a landslide victory across municipal corporations and municipalities in the 2026 civic body elections. While the saffron party dominated the urban landscape, the results brought a mix of surprises, including the defeat of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja’s sister and a notable performance by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in specific pockets of the Saurashtra region.

Saffron wave sweeps major corporations

The counting of votes, which began early Tuesday morning across 393 local bodies, quickly turned into a one-sided affair in most urban centers. In major cities like Rajkot, Jamnagar, and Surat, the BJP’s "panel system"—where the party fields a group of four candidates per ward—delivered clinical results.

In the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, the BJP secured a staggering 65 out of 72 seats, leaving the Congress with a meager seven. Similarly, in Jamnagar, the party achieved a complete wipeout of the opposition in several wards, winning 40 seats across ten wards consecutively. The newly upgraded Navsari Municipal Corporation also saw a saffron surge, with the BJP claiming 50 out of 52 seats.

High-profile upsets and family battles

One of the biggest talking points of the day was the defeat of Nainaba Jadeja, sister of Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja. Contesting on a Congress ticket in Ward No. 2 of Rajkot, she failed to withstand the BJP wave as the entire saffron panel emerged victorious in her constituency.

Another notable loss was reported from Lathi Taluka Panchayat, where Sonalben Der, daughter of famous folk writer Maya Bhai Ahir and a BJP candidate, suffered a crushing defeat against Congress’s Shantiben Der. These individual losses provided small windows of relief for the Congress in an otherwise dismal day for the party.

AAP challenges status quo in Saurashtra

While the overall narrative remained pro-BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) managed to register its presence, particularly in the Saurashtra region and Jamnagar. In a surprising turn of events in Jamnagar’s Ward No. 12, AAP candidates Aslam Khilji and Zainabben Khafi secured victories alongside two Congress candidates. Interestingly, Khilji won the seat while being behind bars under GUJSITOC charges.

In Surat, where AAP had previously made significant gains, the party faced a tougher challenge this time. The BJP managed to snatch back several seats, including Ward No. 16, where AAP’s prominent face Payal Sakaria was defeated by the BJP panel.

Clashes and chaos at counting centers

The high stakes led to several instances of friction between party workers. In Surat, a violent scuffle broke out at Gandhi Engineering College between BJP and Congress supporters following the declaration of results for Ward No. 18. Witnesses described a "hair-pulling brawl" that required police intervention to disperse the crowd.

Similar tensions were witnessed at Ahmedabad’s LD Engineering College, where AAP and BJP workers engaged in a heated face-off over the use of mobile phones inside the counting hall. In Visnagar, the Congress staged a walkout and boycotted the counting process, alleging EVM tampering after a BJP clean sweep in Ward-3.

New civic bodies and OBC factor

This election was particularly significant as it was the first since the state increased reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 10% to 27% in local bodies. The move appeared to have consolidated the BJP’s vote share across rural and semi-urban belts.

Furthermore, the results for nine newly created municipal corporations, including Morbi and Surendranagar, showed that the ruling party’s organizational machinery remains unmatched at the grassroots level. In Morbi, the BJP created history by winning all 52 seats in its very first corporation election.

Future of urban governance

As the final tallies are consolidated, the results suggest a shrinking space for the traditional opposition. The Congress's inability to keep pace in urban wards has allowed the BJP to maintain a near-monopoly on city budgets and infrastructure planning. For the AAP, the results represent a foothold that they will look to expand, though the "saffron fortress" of Gujarat remains largely impenetrable for now.

Madhya Pradesh Govt Nominates Eldermen for 65 Nagar Parishads

Fresh order under Nagar Palika Act ensures seamless urban governance till polls or next directive

In a significant administrative step, the Madhya Pradesh government today notified the nomination of eldermen for 65 Nagar Parishads across the state. The Urban Development and Housing Department issued the order  of the Madhya Pradesh Nagar Palika Adhiniyam, 1961, appointing four eldermen each to these urban local bodies. The nominations will remain in force till the existing councils complete their term or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.

The notification aims to prevent any administrative vacuum in civic bodies where regular elections are yet to be scheduled. Senior officials confirmed the move will ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential services such as water supply, sanitation, road maintenance, street lighting and solid waste management in these towns.

Nominations Span Multiple Divisions  

The comprehensive list covers urban bodies in districts including Sagar, Rewa, Mauganj, Shahdol, Umaria, Katni, Dindori, Narsinghpur, Balaghat, Seoni, Chhindwara, Pandhurna, Narmadapuram, Harda, Betul, Burhanpur and Khargone. Key councils include Karoulapur, Bilhara, Surkhi and Rahatgarh in Sagar division; Vaikunthpur, Sirmour, Dabhoura, Semariya, Tyonthar and Chakghat in Rewa; Budhar in Shahdol; and several others in the Narmada and southern regions.

Legal Framework and Immediate Effect  

The state government exercised its statutory powers to nominate these eldermen for smooth functioning of the councils. Every nominee’s full name, father’s or husband’s name and ward number have been explicitly mentioned in the official order, making the entire process transparent and verifiable. The nominations take immediate effect upon publication.

Ward-Wise Details of Nominated Eldermen  

The order features a balanced mix of experienced local leaders, women representatives and community figures from different wards. In Nagar Parishad Karoulapur (Sagar), Shri Prabhu Singh (Ward 15, Majhgawan), Smt. Kamlesh Rani Ray (Ward 5), Shri Shripal Jain (Ward 11) and Shri Vikram Singh (Ward 8) have been nominated. In Bilhara, Shri Manish Garg (Ward 1, Singwahani), Shri Raju Patel (Ward 4, Ganesh Chowk), Shri Pushpendra Thakur (Ward 1) and Shri Hiralal Ahirwar (Ward 5) find place. Similar ward-specific appointments have been made in Surkhi, Rahatgarh, Vaikunthpur, Sirmour, Dabhoura, Semariya and dozens of other councils, ensuring broad local representation.

Ensuring Continuity of Civic Services  

With local body polls not yet notified in these areas, the fresh nominations of eldermen will allow the councils to convene meetings, sanction development works and resolve public grievances without any delay. This is especially important for ongoing schemes under state and central urban missions.

Impact on Urban Governance  

The decision is expected to strengthen grassroots democracy in smaller towns where elected bodies sometimes face delays in reconstitution. Residents of these 65 Nagar Parishads can now directly approach the newly nominated eldermen for civic issues. It also reflects the government’s priority to keep urban development on track while preparations for the next municipal elections are underway.

What Lies Ahead  

The state is likely to announce the schedule for regular Nagar Parishad elections in the coming months. Till then, the newly nominated eldermen will work alongside any existing elected members to implement development projects and maintain public services. The complete list of names, parentage and wards has been published in the official gazette for public information and easy reference.

This proactive step by the Madhya Pradesh government underscores its commitment to robust urban local self-governance and timely public service delivery across the state.