Modi dials Delhi through local poll sweep

Then again, with no support from the rebels within—and the VHP and the Sangh Parivar—Modi had also his reputation at stake. The result:

• After the thumping win in the AMC election, the BJP today swept 16 of the 23 district panchayats, snatching about a dozen from the Congress.

• Of the 208 taluka panchayats for which results were declared, the party won in 135—votes were being recounted for one taluka panchayat.

• Of the 49 nagarpalikas, the BJP won in 30 and the Congress in seven. In 12 nagarpalikas, the Congress backed independents.

The BJP has recaptured the entire eastern tribal belt of the state, winning most of the local bodies from Sabarkantha in the north to Navsari down south. Even in the Saurashtra region, a rebel bastion, Modi’s campaign brought good results: barring Rajkot panchayat, almost all others have been won by the BJP.

A jubilant Modi today announced that the party would celebrate October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, as Vijayotsav. ‘‘The people have displayed full faith in the development policies of the party. We will ensure that our promises are kept,’’ he said.

The sweep means that the litmus test Modi set himself has gone the way he wanted, strengthening his position in the party. Already, he has acted against two rebels by having the party suspend them.

‘‘Those who dismissed the victory in the AMC election, saying it wasn’t really won by Modi are now eating their words,’’ said BJP spokesperson Purshottam Rupala. ‘‘It’s Modi’s magic that won the state back for the BJP from the Congress.’’

What of course helped Modi was the disarray in the Congress, leaderless for almost 10 months—Pradesh Congress Committee chief B K Gadhvi, who died recently, had been in coma for a while.

The Congress did appoint Porbandar MLA and Leader of the Opposition Arjun Modhvadia to oversee the campaign. But it was too little, too late. Even the campaigning was haphazard—other than Sachin Pilot, MP, no Congress leader of any stature chipped in.

‘‘We had no chance,’’ admitted Modhvadia. ‘‘Due to Modi’s campaigning, a simple panchayat or nagarpalika candidate was pitted against the chief minister. When the CM says vote for me and I will ensure the elected BJP councillors will do your work without fail, the choice before the voter is very clear.’’