The countdown has begun. Soon enough, it will be game, set, and match, for the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress as the Gujarat Assembly poll is around the corner. Eighty nine seats in Saurashtra and south Gujarat will go to polls in the first phase, while 93 seats in central and northern Gujarat will go to polls in the second phase. After releasing a list of 76 candidates on Sunday, Congress named its final 14 candidates on Monday. It has generously left two seats for allies and extended support to Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani who will contest as an independent from Vadgam. Rahul Gandhi's party will not be fielding any candidate from that seat, in a gesture of support to Mevani.
The Congress has fielded Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader Alpesh Thakor from the Radhanpur constituency in Patan district. The seat, currently held by the BJP has a strong Thakor community presence. The party has left two seats in the second phase of Gujarat elections for its ally Bharatiya Tribal Party, led by former Janata Dal (United) legislator Chhotu Vasava.
The BJP meanwhile, also released its final list of 34 candidates, dropping five MLAs including former chief minister Anandiben Patel. The legislator from Ghatlodia seat, Ahmedabad, had earlier announced that she would not contest the polls. Also to be skipped is Rohit Patel from Anand seat, Nagarji Thakor, RM Patel, and Vinchhia Bhuria. Former BJP minister and spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas will contest from Siddhpur, where he had faced a defeat in 2012.
Polls for the 182-member Assembly will take place on December 9 and 14. Counting will take place on December 18.
