Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Vishwakarma on Thursday, 6 August alleged that the Congress attempted to foment violence and disorder on polling day in the Manjalpur Assembly by-election, claiming the opposition acted out of desperation after sensing an impending defeat. The allegation came at a post-victory event in Vadodara, where BJP leaders gathered to acknowledge the efforts of grassroots party workers.

The Allegation Against Congress

Speaking at a 'Rin Svikar' (Expression of Gratitude) programme held at Tarsali in Vadodara, Vishwakarma claimed that Congress 'did not even have enough polling agents during the election' and alleged that the party 'attempted to create violence and disorder on polling day' after conceding it was headed for a loss. The Congress has not publicly responded to these allegations. State Organisation General Secretary Ratnakarji was also present at the event.

What BJP Leaders Said

Vishwakarma attributed the BJP's victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, voter confidence in the party's lotus symbol, and what he described as 'meticulous booth-level planning combined with the hard work of party workers.' He called on workers to remain active, urging them to strengthen public outreach and ensure that welfare schemes of the BJP governments at the Centre and in Gujarat reached every citizen. He also appealed to workers to participate enthusiastically in the upcoming 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign.

Vishwakarma credited the party's continued public support in Gujarat to what he called development-oriented governance under Prime Minister Modi's guidance and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's leadership. He highlighted central government welfare initiatives — including housing, Jan Dhan, Ayushman Bharat, and farmer-focused schemes — and claimed that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty under the Prime Minister's leadership.

Ratnakarji on Organisational Strength

State Organisation General Secretary Ratnakarji said the positive election result reflected the united efforts of party workers from the booth level to the state organisation. He described BJP's organisational strength as a 'major challenge for the opposition' and said resolving public issues remained the priority of BJP governments at the Centre and in Gujarat.

Ratnakarji added that 'the BJP functioned based on its ideology and clear policies, while the opposition, lacking policy and direction, raised baseless questions against the party.' He urged workers to continue engaging with the public and maintain trust through responsible organisational work.

Political Context

The Manjalpur by-election result reinforces the BJP's dominant hold over Gujarat, a state it has governed continuously for over two decades. The 'Rin Svikar' tradition of formally thanking workers after electoral wins reflects the party's emphasis on booth-level mobilisation as a structural advantage. Notably, this is consistent with BJP's broader post-election pattern of consolidating cadre morale while putting the opposition on the defensive with pointed allegations.