This Article is From Nov 29, 2015

Congress Hopeful of Winning Gujarat Civic Polls, Says Ahmed Patel

Congress Hopeful of Winning Gujarat Civic Polls, Says Ahmed Patel

File photo of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel.

Ahmedabad: Overwhelmed by the high voter turnout till noon across Gujarat for the second phase of local body elections, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel expressed confidence of winning.

Mr Patel, who exercised his franchise at a booth in his ancestral village of Piraman in Bharuch district, termed the polling trend as a "wave for change".

"This enthusiasm among people, who are coming out in huge numbers, to cast their votes, indicates a wave of change.

Attempts were made (by the BJP) to replicate the 'Gujarat Model' across India. But, people will eventually realize that they have been cheated and misguided by such claims of development," Mr Patel told reporters.

The leader said he can envisage the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and victory of the Congress.

Polling to 31 district panchayats, 230 taluka panchayats and 56 municipalities was conducted today from 8 am to 5 pm.

Counting of votes will be held on December 2.

As per the primary report from the State Election Commission, more than 35 per cent voters had already exercised their franchise till 3 pm across Gujarat.

The leaders who have cast their votes include state Health Minister Nitin Patel, Minister of State for Home Rajni Patel, Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki and many other leaders from both the parties.

After casting his vote in Kadi town of Mehsana, Nitin Patel also expressed confidence of winning polls.

"For BJP, development is the only agenda, be it local body polls, Assembly polls or Lok Sabha. People of Mehsana, who were deprived of drinking water earlier, are now given water from Narmada. People knows what this BJP government has done for them," he said.

Face of quota movement, Hardik Patel's father Bharatbhai, mother Ushaben and sister Monica also exercised their franchise in Viramgam town of Mehsana.
.