The first phase of a two-tiered election to 323 local government bodies in Gujarat kicks off on Sunday, when six of the eight municipal corporations will go to polls.
The first phase covers the key municipal corporations of Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar on Sunday, while the second phase covering the rural segments of 230 tehsil panchayats, 56 municipalities and 31 district panchayats will be held on November 29.
As many as 1,856 candidates are in the fray for 568 seats in the six municipal corporations in the state. The BJP controlled all the eight municipal corporations, 150 tehsil panchayats, 42 municipalities and 30 district panchayats in the outgoing local government bodies.
While the BJP has had sweeping success in the state, winning the polls for over two decades, including strengthening its grip during the 12-year rule of Narendra Modi, his successor Anandiben Patel is facing a tough time with the piqued Patel community seemingly pitched against the BJP for the first time since the early 1990s.
The Patels have been on the warpath with the state government since July, seeking OBC status and quotas in government jobs and educational institutions.
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