Over 1,800 candidates to contest polls in Gujarat

Gujarat would see 1,828 candidates fight it out in a race the to 182-seat Assembly in the state during the upcoming elections.

Of these, 977 candidates would contest on 89 seats in Saurashtra-Kutch and south Gujarat regions in the first phase of polls to be held on December 9 and 851 aspirants would contest on 93 seats in north and central Gujarat on December 14.

While the ruling BJP has fielded candidates for all the 182 Assembly constituencies, the Opposition Congress has nominated 178 candidates, leaving three seats for powerful tribal leader Chhotu Vasava in south Gujarat and another one for Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani from Vadgam constituency in north Gujarat.

There are as many as 788 independent



candidates in the fray.

The BSP has fielded its candidates for 139 Assembly seats, even as former state chief minister and Congress rebel leader Shankarsinh Vaghela's political outfit the All India Hindustan Congress Party has fielded 95 candidates. The NCP has fielded 58 candidates.

The NDA's partner and the BJP's ally in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena, has entered the political arena in Gujarat by fielding 42 candidates. The AAP has fielded 30 candidates instead of the 182 that it had planned after its dismal performance in the Punjab and Goa Assembly elections earlier this year.

Among the constituencies, Mehsana in north Gujarat has the highest number of candidates (34), contesting for a seat.