How Did BJP's Rajendra Chavda Win Kadi by Over 39,000 Votes?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rajendrakumar Chavda won Kadi bypoll with a margin of 39,452 votes.
- The bypoll had a voter turnout of 56.89%.
- BJP's total seats in the Gujarat Assembly increased to 162.
- The primary contest was between BJP and Congress.
- Kadi is a significant seat in North Gujarat.
Gandhinagar, June 23 (NationPress) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has successfully maintained its hold on the Kadi Assembly seat in Gujarat, with candidate Rajendrakumar Chavda achieving victory by a significant margin of 39,452 votes against his opponent. The bypoll was called following the demise of BJP MLA Karsanbhai Solanki, and it witnessed a voter turnout of 56.89 percent on June 19, as reported by the Election Commission of India.
Rajendra Chavda received 99,742 votes, while Congress candidate Ramesh Chavda garnered 60,290 votes. The Aam Aadmi Party's Jagdish Chavda only managed to secure 3,090 votes, and 1,701 votes were cast for the None of the Above (NOTA) option.
The BJP led consistently throughout all 22 rounds of counting, which commenced at 8 a.m. on Monday.
In celebration of the outcome, the newly elected MLA attributed the victory to the party's organization and public trust in the government. “This is a mandate for development and governance. The voters have once again shown their confidence in the BJP’s approach,” stated Chavda.
With this win, the BJP's count in the 182-member Gujarat Legislative Assembly has risen from 161 to 162 seats, further solidifying its dominant position.
The by-election featured a total of eight candidates, but the main contest was between the BJP and the Congress.
Among the smaller parties were the Prajashakti Democratic Party led by Shankersinh Vaghela, Bharatiya Jan Parishad, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party, Aapki Awaz Party, and the AAP, which ran separately from Congress despite being part of the national INDIA bloc.
The Kadi Assembly constituency, located in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, serves as a bellwether seat in North Gujarat, a region comprising 32 Assembly segments, where the BJP has historically excelled. In the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, the BJP secured 26 out of 32 seats, including Kadi.
This constituency falls under the Mahesana Lok Sabha seat, which the BJP has held since 2009. Kadi boasts over 2.5 lakh registered voters, predominantly from agrarian and OBC communities, making it a crucial area for assessing rural sentiments.