Before the announcement of the local body elections in Gujarat, the BJP and the Congress have started the selection process of candidates. The BJP has decided to change candidates in metros and municipalities where anti-incumbency will have an impact, while the Congress has this time adopted a strategy of giving priority to youth and women in local elections.
According to BJP sources, 40 to 60 per cent of the existing corporators will be replaced in the municipal corporation and municipality elections and a new face will be appointed in their place. The senior BJP leader said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had started giving opportunities to new faces in the post-2001 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat to curb anti-incumbency and the results have been good, so new faces will also be given a chance in the local elections. In Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, out of 192 seats, 80 seats have been changed on the issue of reservation, so the candidates will change. Most of the new faces are coming in the Ahmedabad elections. In addition, new faces could replace sitting members in other metropolitan areas.
“We have started the process of selecting candidates,” the senior Congress leader said. “The sitting members who can win the election will not be replaced, but a new face will be given a place. We are going to give more tickets to the youth and women in the municipal elections as well as in the urban areas so that they can win the elections. The party does not want to make any major changes in district and taluka panchayat candidates. Those who have lost elections will be replaced by new faces,” he added.
Elections are to be held for six municipal corporations, 55 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats in Gujarat. About 8,000 EVMs will be placed for this election. Before the election date was announced, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani made several important announcements. A total of 20 parties, big and small, are likely to participate in this election.