With the elections for Gujarat assembly right around the corner, the contesting parties’ campaigns are in full swing, from roadshows to the blame game; here’s a look at all that’s been going around in Gujarat.
The EC declared the dates for Gujarat elections to take place between 1st to 5th Dec; lists of candidates released, nominations filed, campaigns begun.
The state election officials on Tuesday, reported that as many as 1,362 candidates have filed the nomination forms for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly polls in 89 seats. Gujarat Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party’s CM candidate Bhupendra Patel is contesting from Ghatlodia seat in Ahmedabad and Aam Aadmi Party’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi is contesting from Khambhalia seat in Devbhumi Dwarka district; are among notable candidates who have filed their nomination for the first phase.
The Election Commission started accepting the forms for the first phase on November 5 and the last day for filing the nominations was on Monday.
Key Highlights
- In the recent update, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed BJP for allegedly kidnapping and forcing their Surat East candidate, Kanchan Jariwala to withdraw his nomination, also raising questions on EC: Manish Sisodia AAP
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel held a roadshow in Ghatlodya, Ahmedabad. “BJP will break all records and win this election with the greatest number of seats and form the government”, said Amit Shah
- The Indian National Congress (INC) announced a list of its star campaigners for the upcoming elections. The list includes some big names such as the Gandhi family, Party Chief Malikarjun Kharge, CM Ashok Ghelot, Bhupesh Baghel, Sachin Pilot, Jignesh Mevani, Kanhaiya Kumar among others.
- While the Union home minister dismissed AAP saying this election is a fight between BJP and Congress. AAP is taking a dig at BJP with the alleged kidnapping bid with all its might.
- AAP leader Raghav Chadha tweeted a video showing Jariwala surrounded by police officials and unidentified persons, and alleged, “Watch how police and BJP goons together – dragged our Surat East candidate Kanchan Jariwala to the RO office, forcing him to withdraw his nomination (sic).”
- The Congress launched its campaign for Jignesh Mevani on Tuesday. At a public meeting Kanhaiya Kanhaiya stirred excitement among the people was seen sitting with MLA Mevani. He began by calling for a two-minute silence for the 135 people who lost their lives in the recent Morbi bridge collapse and took on the BJP government over the tragedy.
- A group of observers believe that the recent incidents such as the Morbi bridge and the premature release of 11 convicts in the 2002 Bilkis Bano gangrape case; also brought up by the Congress in their poll manifesto for the Gujarat elections, might have some impact on the election results while some believe it will not.
- The BJP has come up with new slogans emphasizing itself as the answer to Gujarat in. It launched its campaign quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Aa Gujarat ame banavyu chhe (We built this Gujarat)”. The party’s new slogan includes “Bharosa ni BJP sarkar (Trustworthy BJP government)”.
- On the other hand, AIMIM has announced candidates for 14 of the 182 seats so far.
An interesting twist
A father – son duel over the same seat. Bharatiya Tribal Party founder Chhotu Vasava filed his nomination for the Jhagadia (ST) seat on Monday, days after son Mahesh submitted his papers for the segment that his father has won seven times. If Mahesh does not eventually withdraw, it will possibly be Gujarat’s first such poll battle.
Conflict over ticket
Anger and protests were witnessed at the parties’ offices over the ticket distributions. Congress workers burnt posters of senior politicians at the state party headquarters, while supporters of Bayad BJP politician Dhavalsinh Zala also staged a protest at the state BJP headquarters.
It is reported that, the EC is expected to spend Rs 450 crore for the 2022 Gujarat Election, which works out to Rs 90 to get every eligible voter to the polling booth. The state has 4.55 crore voters this year.
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