Two-phase polling in the state on Dec 9, 14; results on Dec 18
Over 4.33 crore voters in Gujarat are eligible to use their franchise in the keenly fought election that is witnessing a high-decibel campaign run on the issues of demonetisation, GST and unemployment by the Opposition parties. The ruling BJP’s poll plank is development.
It’s a high-stake battle in Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made multiple visits to his poll-bound home state in recent months to make scathing attacks on the Congress, desperate to return to power after 22 years. Modi returned from Delhi to his home state in 2001 to become CM, a post he held till he swept the general elections in 2014.
Defending his decision to delay the announcement of Gujarat’s election, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AK Joti said that an early announcement would have made relief and rehabilitation works in the state suffer as a huge administrative machinery would have been diverted for polling.
Under flak from the opposition parties and questioned by at least two former CECs for allegedly delaying Gujarat’s poll schedule at the behest of the Centre to let the government announce major sops before the model code of conduct comes into force, Joti said he cannot comment on such “baseless charges” as every time the situation is different.
“There is no question of any milibhagat (nexus), many factors are to be taken into consideration by the Commission (before announcements)… there were unprecedented rains and floods in July and August in Gujarat.”
“I would not like to comment on the views of former CECs… no situation is a static situation… all are dynamic situations. If somebody questions our integrity, it is not acceptable,” Joti said. Maintaining that in Himachal Pradesh, elections could not have been delayed as three districts would have become totally snowbound, and Gujarat needed more time to provide succor to a large population ravaged by unprecedented floods, Joti said, “The Commission did the right thing under the circumstances.”
He said floods ravaged seven districts. Besides killing 228 people, floods breached the Narmada canal at 17 places and left roads and infrastructure in dire straits.
Joti cited two letters written on September 27 and October 2 to the Commission by Gujarat’s chief secretary, requesting it to postpone the announcement of elections to give some time to repair badly affected infrastructure and rehabilitate people.
He also gave a detailed account of the relief and rehabilitation work given by the Gujarat administration on two occasions, — September 25 and October 22 — following which the Commission finally decided to announce the poll schedule on October 25.
PRESTIGE BATTLE
Clashes with Cong to intensify further as BJP looks to extend its 22-yr hold on PM’s turf
- PollingDec 9 &14
- CountingDec 18
Asembly to come into existence before Jan 22
- Constituencies182
- Voters4,33,36,804
- Polling booths* Urban
16,697
* Rural
33,431
* Total
50,128
KEY PARTIES
- BJP
- Congress
KEY ISSUES
- For urban areas: GST, demonetisation, bad roads, inflation
- For rural areas: Demonetisation, Patidars (want quota), OBCs (don’t want quota for Patidars), violence against Dalits, Narmada canal network
KEY SEATS
- Rajkot: CM’s constituency
- Viramgam: Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakore hail from here
- Una: Violence against Dalits brought national attention
- Porbandar: Will Congress win from Mahatma’s birthplace?
KEY PERSONALITIES
- BJPAcid test for incumbent CM Vijay Rupani, deputy CM Nitin Patel and state president Jitu Vaghani who must deliver 150 seats
- CongressShaktisinh Gohil, Bharatsinh Solanki and Arjun Modhwadia must ensure Congress benefits from anti-incumbency factor
- Three musketeersJignesh Mevani (Dalit leader), Hardik Patel (Patidar leader), Alpesh Thakor (OBCs) hold the key to Gujarat throne, or do they?
