In Gujarat’s Vadodara, Where PM Modi Once Secured a Record 8.45 Lakh Votes, It’s Joshi vs Joshi—Who Will Win Voters’ Blessing?

After Maharashtra, the stage is now being set for high-stakes municipal elections in Gujarat, with an official announcement expected in the coming days. These civic polls are being widely viewed as a political semi-final ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Amid this backdrop, an interesting and unusual political contest is taking shape in Vadodara—BJP’s long-standing stronghold—where three prominent leaders sharing the surname “Joshi” are set to test their popularity.

Vadodara holds special political significance for the BJP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when Narendra Modi was the prime ministerial candidate, he contested from both Varanasi and Vadodara, winning the latter with a record 845,464 votes, securing 72.75 percent of the total vote share. In subsequent elections—2019 and 2024—the BJP continued to dominate the seat, maintaining a vote share above 70 percent. Now, as the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) elections approach, the spotlight has shifted to a local battle that could redefine political equations in the city.

Three Joshis, Three Political Paths

At the center of this unfolding contest are three Brahmin leaders—Hemang Joshi of the BJP, Rutvik Joshi of the Congress, and Ashish Joshi, a former BJP corporator whose recent moves have sparked intense speculation.

Hemang Joshi, the sitting Member of Parliament from Vadodara, has recently been appointed as the Gujarat BJP Yuva Morcha president. Although the city BJP unit is formally led by Dr. Jayprakash Soni, Hemang Joshi’s influence within the party and among voters will be closely scrutinized in the upcoming civic elections. His performance is expected to be seen as a measure of his growing stature within the party.

On the other side stands Rutvik Joshi, a Congress leader known for his proximity to the party’s ‘Jai Jawan’ group. He is expected to play a key role as the Congress looks to regain lost ground in the BJP-dominated city.

Adding an unpredictable twist is Ashish Joshi, a BJP corporator-turned-rebel. Recently, he met Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal during the latter’s visit to Vadodara, where he accompanied families affected by the Harni boat tragedy. This meeting has fueled speculation that Ashish Joshi may be moving closer to AAP, with discussions underway about a possible significant role for him in the party.

Rebel Factor and Political Calculations

Ashish Joshi was expelled from the BJP after repeatedly raising the Harni boat tragedy issue and opposing the state leadership during a municipal event attended by the Chief Minister. If he formally joins AAP, it could set the stage for a three-cornered contest, with leaders sharing the same surname but representing three different political ideologies.

For Hemang Joshi, this poses an additional challenge—whether he can prevent Ashish Joshi from denting the BJP’s traditional vote base in the municipal elections.

Brahmin Politics Takes Center Stage

Vadodara, once represented in Parliament by actress Deepika Chikhalia of Ramayan fame, is now witnessing a renewed focus on Brahmin politics. The rise of Hemang Joshi has also raised questions about the future role of senior Brahmin leaders in the BJP, including former Assembly Speaker and minister Rajendra Trivedi, former MP Balkrishna Shukla, ex-state general secretary Bhargav Bhatt, and Dabhoi MLA Shailesh Mehta.

Interestingly, all three Joshis—Hemang, Rutvik, and Ashish—share another common link: they are alumni of Vadodara’s MS University. While Hemang Joshi hails from Porbandar, both Rutvik Joshi and Ashish Joshi were born and raised in Vadodara. Ashish Joshi’s political entry is credited to Dabhoi MLA Shailesh Mehta, who holds considerable influence within the Brahmin community.

As Gujarat heads toward crucial civic elections, Vadodara’s “Joshi vs Joshi” contest is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched political battles—one that could offer early clues about shifting loyalties and emerging leadership ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.