Gujarat all set for first phase of polls in 89 seats; 788 candidates in fray

Gujarat Assembly has 182 seats, out of which votes will be cast for 89 seats in the first phase

Voting for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly will be cast on December 1 for 89 seats spread across Kutch, Saurashtra and south Gujarat. Traditionally a bipartite contest, the state is witnessing a three-party contest this time around with Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party competing with ruling BJP and chief opposition Congress. The stakes are said to be high for each party.

According to the state election commission, 788 candidates, 718 men and 70 women, are in the fray. There are over 2.39 crore voters, including 1.24 crore men and 1.15 crore women, who are going to use their franchise at 25,430 polling booths. According to the commission, 5.74 lakh voters are first-timers aged between 18 and 19. The vote of Patidar community in Saurashtra and Surat while tribal votes in south Gujarat are said to be key factors in the first phase.

Gujarat Assembly has 182 seats, out of which votes will be cast for 89 seats. Out of 89, BJP had won 48 in 2017 election, while Congress bagged 38, two went to Bharatiya Tribal Party and one seat to NCP. It was the election closely contested between BJP and Congress.

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This time, however, AAP has created a buzz among the voters and directly challenging BJP and Congress in Surat and many other seats in tribal areas of south Gujarat as well as Saurashtra. The party is primarily being backed by a section of Patidar community and section of voters who are looking for an "alternative" "strong opposition" as well as AAP's guaranteed promises of free power, health, education, unemployment stipends, among others.

The ruling party, meanwhile, is leaving no stone unturned to retain its hold by seeking votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has already held over 30 election rallies across the state. Modi is also holding a marathon 40-km-long roadshow in Ahmedabad on Thursday to woo voters in the second phase on December 5.

BJP ruled chief ministers including Yogi Adityanath from Uttar Pradesh, Pramod Sawant, Goa, Himanta Biswa Sarmar from Assam and scores of union ministers and senior BJP leaders have been holding rallies across the state seeking votes in the name of Modi. On Wednesday, Devendra Fadnavis, deputy CM of Maharashtra, appealed the voters in a press conference in Ahmedabad to "bless Modi ji, Bhupendra bhai and BJP to take Gujarat towards development for five more years."

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Political observers say that "there is little doubt that the PM remains popular in the state but unlike his party." An observer said, "There is no doubt that the BJP is suffering from anti-incumbency, price-rise, unemployment, series of recruitment exams paper leak and yearning for a change yet the party may be able to clear the hurdle by projecting Modi as a strong leader." As a mater of fact, Assam CM repeated spoke how "this vote is not just for Gujarat but it will help Modi becoming the prime minister for the third time" at most of his rallies in the state.

The BJP is also exploiting Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge's "Ravan barb" at Modi as an "insult for Gujarat and Gujaratis." Besides, BJP leaders including union home minister Amit Shah are attacking the Congress over "communal rioting, Muslim appeasement policies." Shah and Yogi have also referred to 2002 post Godhra riots, construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, said to be aimed at polarizing the voters. In Godhra rally on Wednesday, Yogi said, "20 years ago, Ram bhakts made sacrifice resulted in 'Gujarat Model' which ended curfews, riots for good."

Meanwhile, Congress campaign is being led by Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who has been ""selling Rajasthan model" of governance. In the line of AAP, the party has promised free treatment up to Rs 10 lakhs for every Gujarati, free electricity up to 300 units, farmers' loan waiver up to Rs3 lakh, 10 lakh jobs, Rs3000 unemployment allowance, among others. Gujarat congress president Jagdish Thakor, claimed, "Congress is receiving mass support at ground level. We are forming the government with over 125 seats."