VADODARA: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Yusuf Pathan on Sunday said the BJP is unlikely to be removed from power in Gujarat for the next 40–50 years, underlining the party’s sustained public support in the state.Speaking to mediapersons after voting for civic polls in Vadodara, Pathan stressed that electoral success ultimately hinges on the trust of the people, asserting that parties which work on the ground and deliver development continue to receive voter backing. He said Gujarat’s electorate has historically prioritised development and governance over other factors.“Voting is everyone’s fundamental right and it should be exercised wisely. People have voted for development here, and Gujarat has always chosen development,” news agency ANI quoted Yusuf Pathan as saying.Pathan said the BJP’s entrenched position in Gujarat makes it difficult to dislodge the party from power in the foreseeable future. “The BJP cannot be removed from power in Gujarat for the next 40–50 years. A party that works for the people and is liked by them is preferred by voters,” he said, attributing its dominance to consistent public support.At the same time, the TMC leader drew a parallel with West Bengal, asserting that his party too would remain politically relevant there for decades due to its strong organisational network and grassroots cadre. “TMC won’t go anywhere for 40–50 years because its cadre works there,” he added.Pathan also raised concerns over voter turnout figures, claiming that the percentage appeared lower due to the removal of a significant number of voters from electoral rolls. He argued that if those voters were included, turnout would have been substantially higher, dismissing any notion of a dramatic shift in participation.The remarks came amid polling for local self-government institutions across Gujarat, covering 15 municipal corporations, including major urban centres, along with 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats.Earlier, Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel appealed to citizens to ensure maximum participation, calling voting not just a democratic right but a sacred civic duty. He urged voters to reach polling stations in large numbers and encourage others to do the same, pitching for “100 per cent voting” to strengthen grassroots democracy.Patel said every vote contributes to the development of villages, talukas, districts and cities, and called upon citizens to make the electoral exercise a “festival of democracy” in the journey towards a developed Gujarat and a developed India.The counting of votes for the local body elections is scheduled to take place on April 28.(With agency inputs)
