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After a lower turnout in the first phase of Gujarat polls on December 9, political parties, the Election Commission and industrial groups are looking to ensure a higher polling percentage in the second phase on Thursday.
A total of 93 constituencies in 14 districts of Central and North Gujarat region will go to the polls on December 14. The results of both phases will be out on Monday, December 18, along with those of jointly with Himachal Pradesh.
The BJP has fielded candidates on all 93 seats, the Congress in 91 constituencies, and Mayawati’s BSP has 75 nominees.
Among the leading names in the fray are Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel from Mehsana, Health Minister Shankar Chaudhary from Vav, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama from Dholka and senior BJP leader Jaynarayan Vyas from Siddhpur. Prominent Congress candidates who will test their fate include Gyasuddin Sheikh from Dariapur and Siddharth Patel from Dabhoi.
Also in the running is OBC leader Alpesh Thakore, who is contesting on a Congress ticket from Radhanpur. The Congress has also extended its support to Dalit youth leader Jignesh Mevani from Vadgam by not fielding a candidate against him.
In 2012, the BJP had won 52 of the 93 seats going to the polls on Thursday. The Congress currently has 39 seats and one each with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and an independent.
The administration has deployed 1.74 lakh security personnel to maintain law and order.
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