Gujarat Election Result: BJP's Babubhai Bokhiriya retains Porbandar in neck and neck fight

Porbandar (Gujarat) [India], Dec. 18 (ANI): Fisheries Minister of State BJP's Babubhai Bokhiriya on Monday defeated his old rival Congress' Arjunbhai Modhwadia by a small margin of 1855 votes.

The fight between two heavyweight old rivals made the seat very interesting and important. While Bokhiriya, in a nail biting fight, bagged 72430 votes, the former Congress MLA Modhwadia got 70575 votes. The trends were fluctuating every minute since morning, but at last Bokhiriya managed to retain his seat.

The Porbandar constituency has total voter strength of 2,37,843, including 1,23,171 males and 1,14,670 females. The dominant caste with the most political clout is Mer and that is why both the BJP and the Congress selected their candidates from this Kshatriya sub-caste.

Brahmins and the fishing caste Khadwa, Thakkar and Dalit are the other important groups whose votes range between 18,000 and 30,000 and the Muslims form about 5 percent of the electorate.

Bokhiria represented the constituency from 1995 to 2002. However, Modhwadia unseated him in 2002 and served two consecutive terms. Bokhiria regained his seat in 2012, defeating Modhwadia by more than 17,000 votes.

This assembly seat represents the following segments Porbandar Taluka (Part) Villages - Bhetkadi, Advana, Simar, Rojhivada, Ishvariya, Bhomiyavadar, Sodhana, Shingda, Sisli, Miyani - Bhavpara, Vadala, Ambarama, Fatana, Majivana,Kunvadar, Morana, Paravada, Nagka, Bavalvav, Natvarnagar, Khambhodar, Kindar Kheda, Modhvada, Sakhpur, Tukda Miyani, Visavada, Palkhada, Keshav, Bagvadar, Vachhoda, Khistri, Vinjhrana, Godhana, Sinhjhar Nes, Katvana, Beran, Bharvada, Baradiya, Ratdi, Kantela, Shrinagar, Rinavada, Simani, Bakharla, Boricha, Pandavadar, Degam, Kuchhdi, Zaver, Kolikhada, Bokhira, Porbandar (M), Khapat, Chhaya (M). (ANI)