#Ahmedabad : #SEC today announced elections to various local bodies, including six municipal corporations on 22 and 29 November. The announcement comes two days after Gujarat High Court ordered the SEC to conduct the local body polls before the expiry of their terms after quashing an ordinance issued by the state government to pave way to delay local bodies polls.
Elections to municipal corporations will be held on November 22, district panchayats, taluka panchayats and nagarpalikas will go to polls onNovember 29.
With the Patel quota agitation still rocking the state, the upcoming elections will test the ruling BJP’s popularity in Gujarat, even as the opposition Congress hopes to benefit.
Calling it a victory of 6.5 crore citizens of Gujarat, Congress spokesperson Nishith Vyas, said, “BJP-led government was not in favour of holding elections as they feared losing the polls. We want to thank the judiciary for intervening in this matter.”
In these elections, neither the compulsory voting provision nor the None Of the Above (NOTA) option will be available, State Election Commissioner Varesh Sinha said.
Congress leader from Vadodara Narendra Ravat has opposed the polls in six municipal corporations and 56 municipalities, citing a Supreme Court order.
Ravat now plans to file a contempt petition in the apex court against the SEC for announcing polls by overriding the stay imposed by Supreme Court.
Earlier, a Vadodara resident filed a petition in the Supreme Court against multiple representative system introduced by SEC in one ward after recent delimitation in corporations and municipalities.
However, Congress party has distanced itself from Ravat’s statement.
According to party spokesperson Himanshu Patel, Ravat is fighting his battle and the party does not endorse it.
“Today’s announcement by SEC is the victory of our demand to hold elections. Now, Congress does not want to stall this process. Ravat has all the rights to fight for his cause.
Congress is ready for the polls and we are confident of winning the elections,” Patel said.
On the other side, Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Nitin Patel also expressed confidence that BJP will sweep the polls.
Commenting on BJP’s chances of winning amidst ongoing Patel quota agitation, which may mar BJP’s chances this time, the minister said that the Patel community has been given due importance in the party as well as government.
“Just as the party has been winning the Gujarat polls since the last 25 years, we will win the upcoming local elections too. There are many Patels who are holding various posts in our party as well as in the government, such as MPs, MLAs, councillors and other party office-bearers,” said #Gujarat #Health #Minister #NitinPatel.
With the Patel quota agitation still rocking the state, the upcoming elections will test the ruling BJP’s popularity in Gujarat, even as the opposition Congress hopes to benefit.
Calling it a victory of 6.5 crore citizens of Gujarat, Congress spokesperson Nishith Vyas, said, “BJP-led government was not in favour of holding elections as they feared losing the polls. We want to thank the judiciary for intervening in this matter.”
In these elections, neither the compulsory voting provision nor the None Of the Above (NOTA) option will be available, State Election Commissioner Varesh Sinha said.
Congress leader from Vadodara Narendra Ravat has opposed the polls in six municipal corporations and 56 municipalities, citing a Supreme Court order.
Ravat now plans to file a contempt petition in the apex court against the SEC for announcing polls by overriding the stay imposed by Supreme Court.
Earlier, a Vadodara resident filed a petition in the Supreme Court against multiple representative system introduced by SEC in one ward after recent delimitation in corporations and municipalities.
However, Congress party has distanced itself from Ravat’s statement.
According to party spokesperson Himanshu Patel, Ravat is fighting his battle and the party does not endorse it.
“Today’s announcement by SEC is the victory of our demand to hold elections. Now, Congress does not want to stall this process. Ravat has all the rights to fight for his cause.
Congress is ready for the polls and we are confident of winning the elections,” Patel said.
On the other side, Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Nitin Patel also expressed confidence that BJP will sweep the polls.
Commenting on BJP’s chances of winning amidst ongoing Patel quota agitation, which may mar BJP’s chances this time, the minister said that the Patel community has been given due importance in the party as well as government.
“Just as the party has been winning the Gujarat polls since the last 25 years, we will win the upcoming local elections too. There are many Patels who are holding various posts in our party as well as in the government, such as MPs, MLAs, councillors and other party office-bearers,” said #Gujarat #Health #Minister #NitinPatel.
PTI
Bureau Report
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