News Analysis India

Tag: Gujarat assembly elections 2022

  • BJP expects to win more seats in Gujarat than forecast in opinion poll

    By IANS

    AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) looks all set to sweep the forthcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled to be held in two phases on December 1 and 5, according to an exclusive CVoter-ABP Gujarat Opinion Poll conducted to gauge popular perceptions and voting intent of adult citizens in the state.

    According to the opinion poll, the BJP is projected to win between 131 and 139 seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. In the previous Assembly polls in 2017, the BJP had won 99 seats. The Congress’ tally is expected to drop precipitously from 77 seats in 2017 to between 31 and 39 seats this time.

    The surprise package is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is projected to win between 7 and 15 seats. As a party, AAP was non-existent in Gujarat in the 2017 elections. The survey hinted that AAP is going to eat a large share of Congress votes in the upcoming elections.

    Commenting on the opinion poll, Gujarat BJP chief spokesperson Yamal Vyas told IANS, “We are expecting even more seats than what has been projected in the survey. And as far as the AAP is concerned, it will draw a blank in Gujarat.”

    On the other, Congress and AAP dismissed the opinion poll, claiming that it is only meant to mislead the voters.

    Congress spokesman Amit Nayak told IANS, “Opinion polls have proven to be wrong a number of times in the past. BJP has brought AAP and AIMIM to Gujarat to divide anti-incumbency votes. But this time its strategy will fail, as people have started realising that AAP is the ‘B’ team of BJP. Contrary to the opinion poll, Congress will come to power in Gujarat by winning at least 125 seats.”

    AAP spokesman Yogesh Jadvani told IANS, “Thrice in Delhi and once in Punjab, people have proved that these surveys can be completely wrong, and this will be repeated in Gujarat elections too, as people have decided to change the state government.”

    If AAP is getting 20 per cent vote share, as predicted by the opinion poll, there is every possibility that it will dent the ruling party’s (BJP) vote share too, said political analyst Dilip Gohil.

    While early indications are that BJP is benefitting a lot from AAP’s presence, things can change, he added.

    AHMEDABAD: The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) looks all set to sweep the forthcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat scheduled to be held in two phases on December 1 and 5, according to an exclusive CVoter-ABP Gujarat Opinion Poll conducted to gauge popular perceptions and voting intent of adult citizens in the state.

    According to the opinion poll, the BJP is projected to win between 131 and 139 seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly. In the previous Assembly polls in 2017, the BJP had won 99 seats. The Congress’ tally is expected to drop precipitously from 77 seats in 2017 to between 31 and 39 seats this time.

    The surprise package is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which is projected to win between 7 and 15 seats. As a party, AAP was non-existent in Gujarat in the 2017 elections. The survey hinted that AAP is going to eat a large share of Congress votes in the upcoming elections.

    Commenting on the opinion poll, Gujarat BJP chief spokesperson Yamal Vyas told IANS, “We are expecting even more seats than what has been projected in the survey. And as far as the AAP is concerned, it will draw a blank in Gujarat.”

    On the other, Congress and AAP dismissed the opinion poll, claiming that it is only meant to mislead the voters.

    Congress spokesman Amit Nayak told IANS, “Opinion polls have proven to be wrong a number of times in the past. BJP has brought AAP and AIMIM to Gujarat to divide anti-incumbency votes. But this time its strategy will fail, as people have started realising that AAP is the ‘B’ team of BJP. Contrary to the opinion poll, Congress will come to power in Gujarat by winning at least 125 seats.”

    AAP spokesman Yogesh Jadvani told IANS, “Thrice in Delhi and once in Punjab, people have proved that these surveys can be completely wrong, and this will be repeated in Gujarat elections too, as people have decided to change the state government.”

    If AAP is getting 20 per cent vote share, as predicted by the opinion poll, there is every possibility that it will dent the ruling party’s (BJP) vote share too, said political analyst Dilip Gohil.

    While early indications are that BJP is benefitting a lot from AAP’s presence, things can change, he added.

  • Gujarat polls 2022: AAP looks to give sleepless nights to the BJP and the Congress

    By Online Desk

    A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Gujarat Assembly election dates, political activities have started picking up pace in the State.

    The ECI has announced that elections for the 182 assembly seats in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

    Close on the heels of the announcement of dates for the assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal announced a former TV journalist, Isudan Gadhvi, an OBC, as the CM face of his party. Gadhvi was chosen through public opinion in which 73 percent supported him to be the CM face. Gadhvi is the national general secretary of AAP.

    Kejriwal has asserted that AAP will certainly win the Gujarat assembly elections. AAP has already released the list of 118 candidates for the polls. The party is poised to play a crucial role in the polls giving sleepless nights to both the BJP and the Congress.

    Meanwhile, upset reportedly over not being made AAP’s chief ministerial candidate, former legislature Indranil Rajguru on Friday quit the party and joined Congress. He alleged that the Kejriwal-led party has been functioning as a “B-team” of the BJP in the state.

    Also on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge chaired a meeting of the party’s central election committee (CEC) during which several candidates for the Gujarat polls were finalised. Subsequently, the party released the first list of 43 candidates. The Congress has fielded former Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadiya from Porbandar, Himanshu Patel from Gandhinagar South and Hiteshbhai Vora from Rajkot South. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi joined the meeting online, while the rest of the participants attended it physically at the AICC headquarters in Delhi.

    For the BJP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a meeting of top Gujarat BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, to deliberate on the potential candidates for the polls.

    The BJP has been ruling the state since 1995. Though the party has an anti-incumbency factor working against it, the absence of a solid, united opposition can be counted as one of the advantages for the saffron party. A report however points out that the BJP’s seat tally has been declining in each election since 2002. The Deccan Herald reports that BJP’s seat tally has gradually come down to 99 in 2017 from 127 seats in 2002. In 2007, the party won 117 seats while in 2012 it won 116 seats. Between 1962 and 1985, Gujarat remained with the Congress.

    (With inputs from PTI)

    A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the Gujarat Assembly election dates, political activities have started picking up pace in the State.

    The ECI has announced that elections for the 182 assembly seats in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.

    Close on the heels of the announcement of dates for the assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal announced a former TV journalist, Isudan Gadhvi, an OBC, as the CM face of his party. Gadhvi was chosen through public opinion in which 73 percent supported him to be the CM face. Gadhvi is the national general secretary of AAP.

    Kejriwal has asserted that AAP will certainly win the Gujarat assembly elections. AAP has already released the list of 118 candidates for the polls. The party is poised to play a crucial role in the polls giving sleepless nights to both the BJP and the Congress.

    Meanwhile, upset reportedly over not being made AAP’s chief ministerial candidate, former legislature Indranil Rajguru on Friday quit the party and joined Congress. He alleged that the Kejriwal-led party has been functioning as a “B-team” of the BJP in the state.

    Also on Friday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge chaired a meeting of the party’s central election committee (CEC) during which several candidates for the Gujarat polls were finalised. Subsequently, the party released the first list of 43 candidates. The Congress has fielded former Gujarat Congress chief Arjun Modhwadiya from Porbandar, Himanshu Patel from Gandhinagar South and Hiteshbhai Vora from Rajkot South. Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi joined the meeting online, while the rest of the participants attended it physically at the AICC headquarters in Delhi.

    For the BJP, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a meeting of top Gujarat BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, to deliberate on the potential candidates for the polls.

    The BJP has been ruling the state since 1995. Though the party has an anti-incumbency factor working against it, the absence of a solid, united opposition can be counted as one of the advantages for the saffron party. A report however points out that the BJP’s seat tally has been declining in each election since 2002. The Deccan Herald reports that BJP’s seat tally has gradually come down to 99 in 2017 from 127 seats in 2002. In 2007, the party won 117 seats while in 2012 it won 116 seats. Between 1962 and 1985, Gujarat remained with the Congress.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Rahul Gandhi meets Congress leaders from Gujarat, asks them to strengthen party for assembly polls

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi met party leaders from Gujarat on Friday and urged them to strengthen the organisation and be prepared for the assembly elections in the state scheduled to be held late next year.

    Gandhi also separately met senior leaders from the state and sought their views on the appointment of the new state Congress chief and the CLP leader.

    AICC general secretary organisation KC Venugopal and AICC in-charge for Gujarat Raghu Sharma were also present during the meeting.

    Party PCC chief Amit Chavda and working president Hardik Patel besides other leaders also met Gandhi.

    Gandhi is learnt to have held discussions separately with the leaders from the state and sought their views on the strengthening of the organisation in Gujarat.

    Sharma also hosted a lunch for all party leaders at Rajasthan House where Rahul Gandhi and Venugopal were also present.

    Gujarat PCC chief Amit Chavda said leaders from the state held political discussions on the upcoming assembly elections and the party’s preparedness.

    He said Gujarat is moving towards a change, and this time, the Congress will help bring about this change.

    Former Gujarat PCC president Bharat Solanki said they held a fruitful meeting where various organisational issues were discussed.

    “Gujarat Congress will be strengthened at all levels and we will certainly defeat the BJP in Gujarat in 2022 assembly elections,” he said.

    The Congress had put up a strong fight in the last assembly elections in Gujarat but could not upstage the BJP, which has been in power for over two decades.

  • Gujarat 2022 Assembly poll fight will be between BJP and AAP: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia

    By PTI
    SURAT: The 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls will be a straight contest between the ruling BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Sunday.

    In Surat to welcome businessman Mahesh Savani into the AAP fold, Sisodia said the BJP was in power for over two decades in the state but had failed to bring about any change, whereas his party has emerged from the people, stood by them and was synonymous with “good governance”.

    “The trust and faith of the people in AAP is growing. The 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls will be between the party that has been ruling without bringing about any change and the party that has emerged from the people,” Sisodia said.

    He claimed people like Savani joining his party was a sign that the business community as well as common citizens wanted change in Gujarat.

    Savani, who belongs to the politically influential Patidar community, is known for organising mass marriages for orphaned women and also runs hostels for HIV positive girls.

  • After Surat victory, AAP eyes 2022 Gujarat assembly elections

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI:  Days, after the AAP won 27 seats in the elections to Surat Municipal Corporation in Gujarat, party chief, and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, took out a roadshow in the industrial city to thank the electorate. 

    BJP retained power in all six municipal corporations in Gujarat after the polls. In Surat, the AAP came second with 27 seats while the BJP bagged 93 of the 120 seats. The Congress, which had won 36 seats last time, drew a blank.

    ALSO READ | Kejriwal highlights Surat ‘victory’, says only AAP can defeat BJP

    During his address to the party corporators here, Kejriwal said, “The people of Gujarat are watching you with great hope. In our first attempt, AAP won 28 Assembly seats in Delhi and came to power. People trusted us because they knew we are true patriots”

    “In the 49 days of our rule, we did a lot of pro-people work. As a result, the people of Delhi gave us 67 seats in the second election. Now, six crore people of Gujarat will observe the work of 27 AAP corporators. If you perform well, I am sure there will be a huge revolution in 2022,” Kejriwal added.

    ALSO READ | BJP, Congress afraid of people who voted for AAP in Gujarat, says Arvind Kejriwal

    Kejriwal also warned the corporators of BJP contacting them to switch sides. “I am sure that BJP people will call you. But remember, our true wealth is people’s trust. If anyone of you switches side, it will break the trust of six crore people.”