Gujarat Assembly elections 2017: Five BJP ministers who lost to Congress candidates

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Ahmedabad: Even though BJP came back to power in Gujarat, five ministers in the state government lost the Assembly polls on Monday to Congress candidates.

Of these, Atmaram Parmar and Chimanbhai Sapariya are Cabinet ministers.

Parmar, a prominent Dalit leader of the BJP, bit the dust against Congress' Pravinbhai Maru in Gadhada (SC) seat in Botad district. Maru scored 69,457 votes against Parmar's 60,033.

Sapariya went down fighting against Congress' Chiragbhai Kalariya in Jamjodhpur constituency. Kalariya's tally stood at 64,212, while Sapariya ended up clinching 61,694 votes.

Shankar Chaudhary, Keshaji Chauhan, and Shabdsharan Tadvi are the three Ministers of State who failed to retain their respective seats.

Chaudhary lost to Congress' Geniben Thakor. Chaudhary secured 95,673 votes against Thakor's tally of 1,02,328 votes. Chauhan failed to taste victory by a narrow margin of 972 votes from Deodar constituency. He was defeated by Shivabhai Bhuriya of the Congress. Bhuriya pocketed 80,432 votes against Chauhan's 79,460.

Tadvi was uprooted by Congress' Premsinh Vasava in Nandod (ST) seat. Vasava bagged 81,849 votes and Tadvi 75,520. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked Gujaratis to "forget" what happened in the last two-three months and come together to work for the development of the state.

"Despite the victory and the huge support that you gave us, I would like to say that 6.5 crore Gujaratis are one, and have the ambition of moving ahead," he said.

"Leave behind what happened, forget who did what and let`s come together and unite. Not a single Gujarati is separate from us. Join hands once again," PM Modi said in an emotional appeal to the people of his home state.

In a clear allusion to the Congress joining forces with the Patidars on the promise of caste quota, he said that some people "played their tricks" to divide the Gujaratis but could not succeed. 

"You defeated them, but they would still continue with their tricks. Therefore with the mantra of unity and brotherhood, all should walk together...We will have to be more vigilant now," he added.

PM Modi said by voting his party back to power, the people of Gujarat have chosen "the path of development". He also said that the Gujarat victory is not "ordinary" as it is the sixth consecutive victory in spite of his moving from Gujarat to the Centre.

Speaking on Himachal Pradesh results, where the BJP too won, he said, "Himachal results prove that if you do not do development, if you indulge in misdeeds and that is your priority, then the public does not accept you after five years."

(With PTI and IANS inputs)