Fate of 359 candidates was sealed today in Gujarat in third phase of election. Around 47 per cent of voters turned out to cast their votes amid scorching heat. Today's election assumes importance as many top political leaders including BJP's prime ministerial candidate LK Advani, union textile minister Shankersinh Vaghela, Dinsha Patel and Naranbhai Rathwa are contesting from Gujarat.
Polling started an hour in advance at 7 am against the routine time of 8 am in view of rising mercury level. All the political stalwarts and candidates contesting from the state cast their votes in the first hour. However, Advani family could not vote for LK Advani due to delimitation of constituencies. Advani family today cast vote in Shahpur, which got merged with Ahmedabad East constituency post delimitation. Earlier, the area was under Gandhinagar constituency from where LK Advani is contesting.
Delimitation has a major effect on the political map of Gujarat. Constituencies such as Gandhinagar, Kapadvanj, Ahmedabad, Kutch, Dhandhuka and Mandvi have been impacted on account of delimitation. After the implementation of recommendation of Delimitation Committee, Advani’s Gandhinagar and BJP's Harin Pathak’s Ahmedabad seats were reconfigured, while Vaghela's Kapadwanj was merged with neighbouring seats.
Ellisbridge, Asarwa and Dariapur areas are no longer in Gandhinagar constituency, while Kalol, Sanand, Ghatlodia, Vejalpur and Naranpura have been added to it. Delimitation is going to change the equation of Gandhinagar seat, according to political observers.
Another important factor is the "Patel community unrest" after the sidelining of veteran leader and Narendra Modi’s predecessor, Keshubhai Patel.
Meanwhile, a group of Patel NRIs were in town to campaign aggressivley for Suresh Patel, a Congress candidate pitted against LK Advani from Gandhinagar constituency.
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Those who are closely monitoring the developments believe that considerable turn out of diamond workers may act in favour of Congress in Surat. Approximately, 40 to 45 per cent voters came out to exercise their right from diamond worker dominated areas in Surat such as Katargam and Varachha.
It may be mentioned here Congress repeadly attacked Modi government for not helping the diamond workers, many of them had to commit suicides after losing their jobs.
Out of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, BJP had won 14, while Congress managed to clinch 12 seats. With its eight sitting MPs from Congress seeking re-election, the party is confident of maintaining its 12 seats, while BJP's is pinning its hope to increase its tally to 16 or 18 seats.