Phase 1 and Phase 2 polling of the Gujarat Assembly elections are concluded. The exit polls are out and there is a huge win projection for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress came in 2nd place, followed by the Aam Aadmi Party and others. But the focus should be on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s aggressive arrival in the political turmoil of Gujarat. AAP National Convenor and Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has conducted consecutive rallies for the past six months. As per the exit polls, the AAP is not getting more than 10 seats in Gujarat. But there are some seats, where AAP has a strong vote bank and popularity. The Vote share of AAP is projected to be at 16%.
In an exclusive discussion of Vibes of India’s Deepal Trivedi, Janvi Soniya, Dirghayu Vyas and Ajeet Tiwari, they emphasised on the assembly seats and the candidates contested and caste demography.
Here are the details about the Assembly seats:
1) Mandvi (Kutch)
The AAP has given a ticket to Kailash Gadhvi from Mandvi’s seat in Kutch. He is the former Congress president. Gadhvi has been a cabinet minister in the Congress government. Congress has given a ticket to Rajendrasinh Jadeja against Kailash Gadhvi, while BJP has given a ticket to sitting MLA Virendrasinh Jadeja and given a ticket to Aniruddh Dave. If we look at the caste equation of Mandvi, apart from Brahmins and Gadhvis, the population of Darbar is also high. Interestingly, in 1972, the lone Parsi, Navsed Dorabji Dastur, was elected as an MLA. In 1975, former Chief Minister Suresh Mehta was also elected from this seat on a Jan Sangh ticket.
2) Deesa (Banaskantha)
The AAP has fielded a candidate, Dr Ramesh Patel. The BJP has fielded candidate Pravin Mali. The Congress has fielded candidate Sanjay Rabari. The dominating castes are Kshatriya, Maldhari, Chaudhari and Patel.
3) Keshod (Junagadh)
The BJP has fielded candidate Devabhai Malam. The AAP has fielded candidate Ramjibhai Chudasma. The Congress has fielded candidate Hirabhai Jotava.
4) Talala (Gir Somnath)
The BJP has fielded candidate Bhagwanbhai Barad. The AAP has fielded candidate Devender Solanki. The Congress has fielded candidate Mansinh Dodiya. The population stands at 21,14,906.
5) Gariadhar (Bhavnagar)
The BJP has fielded candidate Keshubhai Nakrani. The AAP has fielded candidate Sudhir Vaghani. The Congress has fielded candidate Divyesh Chavda. In the 2017 state Assembly elections, Keshubhai won. Patel community is the majority.
6) Bhavnagar west (Bhavnagar)
The BJP has fielded candidate Jitendra Vaghani. The AAP has fielded candidate Raju Solanki. The Congress has fielded candidate Kishorsinh Gohil.
7) Garbada (Dahod)
The BJP has fielded candidate Mahendra Bhabor. The AAP has fielded candidate Shaileshbhai Bhabor. The Congress has fielded candidate Chandarikasen Bariya.
8) Dahod (Dahod)
The BJP has fielded candidate Kanaiyalal Kishori. The AAP has fielded candidate Dinesh Muniya. The Congress has fielded Harshadbhai Ninama. This is a tribal seat. Patidar Andolan had a great impact here. Rahul Gandhi did a public gathering.
9) Devgadh Baria (Dahod)
The BJP has fielded candidate Bachubhai Khabad. The AAP has fielded candidate Bharat Vakhala. The Congress has fielded candidate Lavar Gopsinh(NCP). This is a scheduled tribe (ST) seat. The NCP candidate left the party to contest the elections.
10) Jambusar (Bharuch)
The BJP has fielded candidate Devkishordasji Sadhu. The AAP has fielded candidate Sajid Rehan. The Congress has fielded candidate Sanjay Solanki.
11) Kamrej (Surat)
The BJP has fielded candidate Praful Panseria. The AAP has fielded candidate Ram Dhaduk. The Congress has fielded Nileshkumar Kumbhani. This is an ST and General seat. This seat was made in 2008 only.
12) Surat North (Surat)
The BJP has fielded candidate Kantibhai Ballar. The AAP has fielded candidate Mahendra Navadiya. The Congress has fielded candidate Ashokbhai V Patel. This is a typical ‘Surti’ seat. Caste dominance stands at Muslim – 14.5% and Patel – 9.5%. In 2017, Kantibhai Ballar won the seat for BJP.
13) Karanj (Surat)
The BJP has fielded candidate Pravin Ghogari. The AAP has fielded candidate Manoj Sorathiya. The Congress has fielded candidate Smt Bharti Prakash Patel. Patels and Muslims are in the majority. Patidar Andolan had been witnessed here. In 2017, Pavin Ghogari won this seat for BJP.
14) Katargam (Surat)
The BJP has fielded candidate Vinod Moriya, The AAP has fielded candidate Gopal Italia. The Congress has fielded Kalpesh Variya.
15) Dharampur (Valsad)
The BJP has fielded candidate Arvind Patel. The AAP has fielded candidate Kamlesh Patel. The Congress has fielded candidate Kishanbhai Vestabhai Patel. This is a ST seat.
16) Kaprada (Valsad)
The BJP has fielded candidate Jitubhai Chaudhry. The AAP has fielded candidate Jayendra Gavit. The Congress has fielded candidate Vasant Patel. In 2017, Jitubhai Chaudhry won the seat for Congress.
17) Varachha Marg (Surat)
The BJP has fielded candidate Kishor Kanani. The AAP has fielded candidate Alpesh Kathiriya. The Congress has fielded Praful Togadiya.
18) Khambalia (Devbhumi Dwarka)
The BJP has fielded candidate Mulubhai Bera. The AAP has fielded candidate Isudan Gadhvi. The Congress has fielded candidate Vikram Madam. The AAP has also named Isudan Gadhvi as their CM face.
These 18 seats supposedly tell us that the voting battle is going to be crucial and competitive. AAP has done excessive marketing to propagate the ideas they wish to bring to Gujarat.
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