- Gujarat is voting in municipal elections.
- Hindu nationalist party is anticipated to win a seventh straight term.
- However, any surprise losses could signal a tougher national race in 2024.
Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is voting in municipal elections. His Hindu nationalist party is anticipated to win a seventh straight term, but any surprise losses could signal a tougher national race in 2024.
The BJP hasn’t lost in the western industrial state since 1995, and Modi was its chief minister for 13 years before becoming prime minister.
Opinion surveys predicted the BJP would keep power in Gujarat despite inflation and unemployment.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was created a decade ago and has claimed power in Delhi and Punjab, is destined to become one of the main opposition groups in the state of more than 60 million people.
Monday is the second round of voting, with results coming on December 8.
Dheeraj Patel, 45, voted in Surat and hopes corruption and unemployment are addressed.
“The BJP dominates the state. They’ve also developed it, but we want to confront the growing corruption,” Patel told Al Jazeera. “Corruption and unemployment aren’t discussed here.”
Vishnu Kumar, a textile merchant in Surat, said the AAP has triangulated the race.
“AAP has entered Gujarat politics and is seen as a serious BJP opponent. It’s worth observing if these negotiations lead to votes, he said.
Five years ago, the BJP won 99 of 182 assembly seats and the Congress 77.
ABP-CVoter predicted in November that the BJP will win 131-139 seats. Congress could win 31 to 39 seats, Aam Aadmi Party 15.
BJP may win 119 seats, according to a November India TV-Matrize poll.
In its bid to unseat the BJP, the AAP has promised voters bill subsidies.
In September, Congress staged a cross-country “unity march” against “hate and division” to regain support.
135 people died when a suspension bridge in Morbi collapsed a month ago. Analysts predict the accident won’t hurt the BJP’s popularity in the polls.
The right-wing party also hopes to win assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, held last month with results due December 8.
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