LOCAL BODY POLLS LIKELY TO BE HELD IN TWO PHASES IN GUJARAT

In view of the Covid-19 situation in Gujarat, the state’s local body elections are likely to be held in two phases, with a thorough examination of guidelines and law and order situation. The election will be formally announced and the counting of votes in this election will be held in two phases.

Currently, preparations are underway by the political parties for the local body elections. In particular, the BJP has been doing a number of programmes, inaugurations, and policy decisions over the last ten days, and both the BJP and Congress are conducting a candidate selection process.

Local body elections, which are crucial ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, are likely to be held in February this year, according to official sources. Municipal Corporation and municipality elections will be held in the first phase while panchayat elections will be held in the second phase.

After the byelections of eight Assembly elections in Gujarat, local self-government elections are coming up again. While preparations have been started by the political parties, the review has also been completed by the State Election Commission. Local body elections are likely to be held in the second week of February.

A review meeting was held by the State Election Commission with all the district collectors through video conferencing regarding the local body elections. The Election Commission also held meetings with different departments of the government. Emphasis was laid on the need for sanitizers and masks.

Apart from this, the Election Commission also met with the Health Department and the Home Department to review the election.