The Gujarat Election Commission on Saturday announced dates for the much awaited polls to the district and taluka panchayats, and municipalities in the state. The opposition Congress, however, cried foul alleging that the dates were announced in a manner that would influence the outcome of the polls.
The civic polls will be the major and crucial elections before the Assembly elections of 2022.
State chief election commissioner Sanjay Prasad announced in Gandhinagar that elections to six municipal corporations will be held on February 21. Re-polling, if necessary, will be done on February 22 and the results will be declared on February 23.
Elections to 31 district and 231 taluka panchayats, and 81 municipalities will be held on February 28. Re-polling, if necessary, will be done on March 1 and the results will be declared on March 2.
The elections were to be held in December 2020, but were postponed due to COVID-19.
Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda, in an interview to a local channel, said that results of municipal corporations will influence the voters in the elections to district and taluka panchayats, and municipalities.
The Congress, he said, is prepared to contest the elections. The only thing is that it will be nice if results of all elections are announced on the same date.
Sources in the know of developments told THE WEEK that in all probability the Congress would move the court seeking that results should be announced after entire election process is over.
Former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela pointed out that the dates have been announced to benefit the ruling BJP. According to him, the saffron party has a good hold in urban areas, unlike the rural areas.
BJP leader Shankar Chaudhary was on record to say that the Congress’ reaction was indicative of the fact that it has conceded defeat.
The Congress faces uphill task in the civic elections, with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM joining hands with Bharatiya Tribal Party headed by Chhotu Vasava. The Aam Aadmi Party, too, is to contest the elections.
