Mixed verdict for celebrity candidates in Gujarat civic polls, influencers win big while big names face shock defeats

Gujarat’s local self-government election results have thrown up a mix of high-profile victories and surprising defeats, with several well-known faces from social media, entertainment and public service testing their political fortunes. While some candidates rode on popularity and grassroots connect to secure wins, others faced setbacks despite strong public visibility.

Among the prominent winners, social media influencer Ankita Parmar registered a decisive victory in a district panchayat seat in Vadodara, overcoming initial controversy around her candidature. Folk singer Rajal Barot made a successful political debut from Una municipality, securing a comfortable margin. Actress and singer Neha Suthar also marked her entry into politics with a win from a taluka panchayat seat in Vijapur.

In Surat, Kavya Kathiriya won from Ward No. 3, maintaining the political presence associated with her family. Farmer leader Raju Karpada, who recently switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party, secured victory in a district panchayat seat. Jigisha Patel, a lawyer and local leader, also emerged victorious from a taluka panchayat seat in Gondal, while Neelam Srivastava, daughter of a senior political figure, won from a ward in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation.

On the other hand, several big names suffered unexpected defeats. Sonal Der, daughter of noted literary figure Maya Ahir, lost from a taluka panchayat seat in Lathi, where a Indian National Congress candidate emerged victorious. Former IPS officer Manoj Ninama, who had recently joined the BJP, faced a significant defeat in Shamlaji.

Former MLA Bhupat Bhayani, who had shifted from the Aam Aadmi Party to the BJP, was also defeated in a district panchayat contest, losing to an AAP candidate. In Rajkot, Congress candidate Nayanaba Jadeja lost from Ward No. 2, while RJ Abha Desai, another well-known face fielded by the party, was defeated from Ward No. 10.

The results highlight that while public recognition played a role in some victories, electoral success continued to depend heavily on local dynamics, organisational strength and voter connect across constituencies.