The 2022 Gujarat Assembly election for its 182 assembly constituencies will be held in two phases the dates for which has been announced earlier today by the panel led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
The election will be held in Gujarat in two phases. In 1st phase, a total of 89 seats while in 2nd phase 93 seats will go in the poll on December 1 and December 5 respectively.
The results of the Gujarat assembly election will be declared on December 8th alongside Himachal Pradesh. Major political parties have gone into full campaign mode trying to take on the might of the ruling BJP which has also taken the guard to defend its fort.
AAP-led by its national convener Arvind Kejriwal has diverted all of its attention toward Gujarat with the hope to pull off a major upset in the presence of the major powerhouses BJP and the Indian National Congress.
But, what are the matters and issues that are boiling up and will decide the fate of these political parties in the coming election, and how have things turned up in the run to a major election lying ahead?
Presenting to you the major factors in Gujarat that can play a huge role in the upcoming election in 10 points:
1. Narendra Modi: The biggest brand in Indian politics, wherever BJP into the poll the aura and cult of the Prime Minister play a huge role. 8 years later even after leaving the post of the state’s CM, Modi has a major decisive call to take in the state’s matter and holds huge call-in sweeping votes to the credit of the saffron party.
2. Remission of Sentence of Bilkis Bano Rape Convicts: In the ecosystem of Indian politics many pundits see Gujarat as the Sangh Parivar’s Hindutva laboratory. The termination of the life sentence will play a major role in the Hindu majoritarian community of the state. On the one hand, Muslims are seeking justice for Bilkis Bano alongside a few sections of the Hindus while a major section will significantly overlook the issue.
3. Anti-Incumbency: Reportedly the 24-year-old rule of the BJP has even led to growing dissatisfaction in the sections of society. Political observers and experts associated with the state’s politics have found that the existing unemployment concerns and matters relevant to basic issues of life have largely remained unresolved after years of BJP’s rule.
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4. Morbi Bridge Collapse: The Morbi bridge collapse that claimed 135 lives has brought the disgusting nexus of the deep connection between the state’s administration and rich businessmen into the scene. Not a considerable section although to an extent this issue might dent the case on the part of the ruling BJP.
5. Postponement of the Govt examinations and frequent paper leaks: The case of frequent paper leaks and postponement of government recruitment exams have been a triggering point in the state every now and then which have dashed the hopes of millions of youths in the state and have led to a major resentment.
6. Lack of basic education and the crumbling health infrastructure in rural Gujarat: The system of education has been a point of concern for the majority of the remote Gujarati voters, if the school classrooms are constructed there are lack of teachers, and if there are successful recruitment of teachers in different pockets, lack of classrooms and infrastructures affect the smooth flow of education.
7. Farmers' Issues: Farmers are agitating in several parts of the state as they have not been given compensation for crop loss due to excess rains in the last two years.
8. Road Infrastructure: Gujarat has been known for its quality roads for years but in the past few years Gujaratis have struggled for the proper roads and the municipal corporation and state government have not been able to construct proper roads, while the people have consistently complaint of potholes and poor roads from major cities from across the state.
9. High Electricity Rates: Gujarat has been among the state with the highest state tariffs in the entire country, an issue which has well been picked up by Kejriwal-led AAP who have been providing electricity in Delhi and Punjab at a huge concession. A similar call over the reduction of electricity tariff was raised by the Southern Gujarat Chambers of Commerce and Industry by presenting the contrasting electricity rates they need to pay against neighboring Maharashtra and the eastern state of Telangana.
10. Land Acquisition: There has been a wide level of discontent among farmers and landowners whose land has been acquired by the government for welfare projects. Over the past few months, farmers and other civil Gujarati society have been calling over the pattern of land acquisition for the state’s bullet train project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai and from Vadodara to Mumbai.