Elections in Gujarat- Which way will the state swing?

The assembly elections will be held in the state of Gujarat (the home state of the Prime Minister and also BJP President) in November-December and it will decide the future of a state which has been a BJP stronghold since two decades. Both the BJP and Congress parties are going all out in their preparations and things are warming up with the AAP party giving a tough fight to them.

There are a total of 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat. The election schedule is yet to be announced. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday declared its first list of candidates for eleven Assembly constituencies in Gujarat and categorically vowed that its goal was to rid the state of BJP and it will not eat into the Congress party votes and hence would not contest from the seats where it is weak.

AAP announces first list

AAP’s Gujarat election in-charge Gopal Rai told media that the names were finalised in Delhi in a closed meeting of party members. He further said, “We will be fighting these elections with a pledge to rid Gujarat of BJP. We had earlier said we will fight against the BJP on select seats. We want to give a direct fight to the ruling party, and we will not contest from any seat where we are weak and where there is possibility of division of votes which may help the BJP.”

Among AAP’s candidates, Manajaria is a retired deputy collector and Mewada is a retired deputy superintendent of police. Verma is an educationist while Rathwa, Patel and Khunt are social activists. In Rajkhot, it chose Rajesh Bhut, a businessman who will be pitched against the present CM, Vijay Rupani.