Minutes after the Election Commission announced the dates for Gujarat Assembly election, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident of winning three-fourth majority in the 182-member Assembly. Chief Minister Rupani said the BJP is ready for the elections scheduled in two phases on December 9 and December 14.
The Axis-My India opinion poll has projected a convincing win for the party despite an anti-GST and anti-demonetisation sentiment in the state. According to the opinion poll, the BJP is likely to win 110-125 of the 182 Assembly seats in the forthcoming election with Vijay Rupani as the top choice for the chief minister's post.
According to Axis-My India poll, Vijay Rupani is the top choice for Gujarat chief minister's post.
HERE ARE THE KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GUJARAT POLL DATE ANNOUNCEMENT STORY:
Following the Election Commission's announcement on the poll dates for Gujarat, state Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki said the Congress would win more than 125 seats in the Assembly. "BJP will not get more than 50 seats," said Solanki.
The Gujarat Congress chief said that the Election Commission has announced the poll dates following pressure from the Congress. Solanki dismissed reports of Hardik Patel meeting Congress vice-president
Rahul Gandhi and said Rahul will meet Patel during his next visit to Gujarat in the first week of November.
The Modi factor is likely to help BJP win Gujarat, finds Axis-My India poll.
According to the Axis-My India opinion poll, the Congress may win 57-65 Assembly seats in Gujarat in alliance with OBC leader Alpesh Thakor and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani. However, if Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel supports Congress, the party's projected seat tally can go up to 71.
Gujarat's veteran political leader Shankersinh Vaghela today announced that the Jan Vikalp Morcha will contest the Gujarat Assembly election on the tractor symbol of All India Hindustan Congress Party. "(We) won't take funds from Ambani and Adani; if our government is formed, we will provide Rs 5,000 pension to widows," said Vaghela, who had quit the Congress before the Rajya Sabha election in the state.
Announcing the dates for Gujarat Assembly Election, Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti said that voter-verifiable paper audit trail machines (VVPATs) will be used at all the polling stations. A total of 50,128 polling booths will be set up for the Gujarat election.
A special drive will be launched ahead of the election to ensure that any left-out voter is enrolled. Gujarat has 4.33 crore voters and all polling stations will have electricity and water supply as well as toilet facilities.
Gujarat Assembly election will be conducted in two phases--first phase on December 9 will cover 89 constituencies in 19 districts and the second phase on December 14 will cover 93 constituencies in 14 districts. Counting of votes for Gujarat will take place along with Himachal Pradesh on December 18.
The model code of conduct is effective from today. The Election Commission mandates that no candidate will spend more than Rs 28 lakh on campaigning and candidates will have to open new bank accounts for election spending. Banks have been asked to track suspicious high-amount transaction.
On delay in announcing poll dates for Gujarat, Chief Election Commissioner Joti said that in the wake of floods in the state, the chief secretary had requested for the election dates to be postponed. Dismissing allegations of colluding with the government, the CEC said magnitude of deaths in Gujarat floods was unprecedented.
In a first, the Election Commission will set up one all-women polling station in each Assembly constituency. The height of the voting compartment has been increased to ensure secrecy.
ALSO WATCH: Gujarat Opinion Poll: Congress unlikely to dent BJP hold despite unhappiness on GST, DeMo
