AHMEDABAD: As the ruling BJP appeared set to tighten its grip over municipal and panchayat bodies in Gujarat on result day, Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM saw a silver lining in select pockets, particularly in Bhuj and Bharuch municipalities in Kutch district.The party, which fielded candidates in around 400 wards, emerged as a surprise element in the otherwise BJP-dominated civic elections, with its chief Asaduddin Owaisi campaigning till the final stage of the polls.He addressed public gatherings in Ahmedabad and Bhuj, where he strongly criticised the BJP over the Uniform Civil Code and urged voters to support alternatives to the ruling party.AIMIM’s most significant performance came from Ward No. 1 of Bhuj Municipality in Kutch district, where three party candidates secured decisive wins.As per TV reports, Sarfaraz polled 3,705 votes, Mukhtar secured 3,581 votes, and Roshan received 3,370 votes, marking a clean sweep in the ward. Additionally, one seat in the same ward was won by a Congress candidate.With this result, AIMIM has managed to establish a visible electoral presence in Bhuj.As per TV reports, another notable outcome came from Bharuch Municipality, where AIMIM secured all four seats in Ward No. 10 strengthening its limited but growing footprint in Gujarat civic politics.While limited in scale, AIMIM’s performance in Bhuj and Bharuch marks one of its more visible entries into Gujarat’s local body politics. The results indicate that the party has managed to translate selective campaign messaging into votes in pockets where it has been actively engaged.(With agency inputs)
