“Many thanks to the people of Khadia who have expressed their persistent confidence in BJP... Each victory of BJP in Gujarat reaffirms that the second decade of the 21st century will see the end of 'vote-bank politics' and the rise of 'Politics of development' in India. The voters of Gujarat have shown that the country is now on the path of politics of development!!”
– Narendra Modi
Bharatiya Janata Party today won another by-election in Gujarat. Party’s candidate Bhushan Bhatt, son of late Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt has been victorious with margin of 2473 votes. Gujarat Congress had worked in its optimum capacity to ensure victory in this by-poll.
BJP workers were jubilant and chanted slogans in favor of Bhatt and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi outside Ahmedabad’s Gujarat college where counting was held in the morning.
Khadia witnessed by-election on 14 February due to death of Shri Ashok Bhatt. Bhatt was senior MLA who was elected from Khadia for number of times. He was senior minister and later Speaker of Gujarat assembly when he died. After his death, the BJP had given ticket to his son Bhushan Bhatt, a local councilor. Congress had selected Jagat Shukla as their candidate. Shukla was in past defeated by late Shri Ashok Bhatt in assembly poll here. This is second defeat of Shukla. One special feature of Khadia by-poll was that the Congress party really fought it seriously and with united teamwork. Congress roped in Mohammad Azhruddin and Gujarat actress Roma Manek on the last day of campaign. Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela had addressed several community meetings of the voters of Khadia. Senior Congress leaders including Vaghela, Siddharth Patel, Shaktisinh Gohil and Arjun Modhwadia had addressed public meetings in the course of Khadia by-poll campaign.
Bhushan Bhatt will enjoy his new status of MLA, Gujarat assembly till next general assembly poll in December 2012. Khadia will adopt new delimitation in general assembly poll of December 2012. This will merge Muslim dominated Jamalpur assembly segment into Khadia.
