By our correspondent, Ahmedabad/New Delhi, 3 May 2013

The bye-election of four seats of the Gujarat state legislative assembly, and two seats of Lok Sabha in Gujarat will be held on 2nd June. The election commission made an announcement in this regard today. Counting will be held on 5 June.

Details of the seats that are going to face by-polls

Morva Hadaf assembly seat: This is a tribal seat located in Panchamahal district of east Gujarat. Congress party won the seat, but its winner candidate Savitaben Khant died on the election result day due to hemorrhage. As per the rule, a seat can’t be vacant for more than six months. Thus the election on this seat has to be held maximum by the middle of this year.

Limbdi assembly seat: Gujarat Congress fielded Lok Sabha MP Soma Ganda Patel on this assembly seat in Gujarat Assembly general elections last year. Soma Ganda won the seat with narrow margin. Later as per the rule Somabhai had to take decision on whether to leave assembly seat(Limbdi) or Lok Sabha seat(Surendranagar). As per the direction of party high-command, Somabhai resigned from Limbdi assembly seat. Thus the seat is vacant, and by-poll is due.

Porbandar Lok Sabha seat: Gujarat Congress fielded Lok Sabha MP of Porbandar Shri Vitthal Radadia on Dhoraji assembly seat in Gujarat assembly general elections last year. Vitthalbhai won Dhoraji assembly seat. Later as per the rule he had to take decision on whether to leave assembly seat(Dhoraji) or Lok Sabha seat(Porbandar). Though his party high command asked Vitthalbhai to leave assembly seat, Vitthalbhai refused and resigned from the Lok Sabha seat. Thus he invited Porbandar Lok Sabha by-poll which is due.

Dhoraji assembly seat: Vitthal Radadia won this seat as Congress candidate, but later decided to join BJP. To rescue self from anti-defection law he has today resigned from the seat. By-poll is certain on this seat now.

Jetpur assembly seat: Vitthal Radadia’s son Jayesh Radadia contested on Congress ticket and won Jetpur seat. Now with his father, he too is joining BJP, and to save self from anti-defection law he has resigned today. By-poll is certain now on this seat, and he may contest it again.

Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat: Sitting Congess MP Mukesh Gadhvi passed away due to illness in Ahmedabad hospital. This invited by-poll here. Banaskantha had elected BJP MP in past, but for two terms, Congress’s Mukesh Gadhvi was the winner. Recently concluded Banaskantha district panchayat polls also elected Congress once again. However due to post-poll manupulation, BJP is in power there.

Note: BJP won 115 out of 182 seats in last year’s Gujarat elections, Congress won 61. After sad death of Savitaben Khant, Congress was down at 60. With resignation of MP Soma Patel, Congress was one step down at 59. Now with Radadias leaving the party, Congress is at 57. BJP won 117 seats in 2007 general elections, but in 2012 polls the party could secure victory on 115 seats. However upcoming by-polls may push BJP to above 117 mark. BJP will be able to win three assembly seats; Dhoraji, Jetpur and Limbdi, while Morva-Hadaf is Congress bastion, and only strong candidate and extra har work can make BJP victorious there.

Official announcement by the Election Commission

There are following clear vacancies in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies of various States, which need to be filled up:-

Vacancies in the Lok Sabha:

 

Vacancies in the State Legislative Assemblies:

 

After taking into consideration various factors like, festivals, electoral rolls, etc., the Commission has decided to hold bye-elections to fill these vacancies as per the programme mentioned as under: –

 

ELECTORAL ROLL

The electoral rolls of the Parliamentary/Assembly Constituencies where bye-elections are being held, have been revised with reference to 01.01.2013 as the qualifying date. The Electoral Rolls have been finally published in respect of the States where bye–elections are to be held, on the dates given in the table below:

 

ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (EVMs)

The Commission has decided to use EVMs in the bye-elections in all the polling stations. Adequate numbers of EVMs have been made available and all steps have been taken to ensure that the polls are conducted smoothly with the help of these machines.

IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS

In consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that the voter’s identification shall be mandatory in the aforementioned bye- elections at the time of poll. Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) shall be the main document of identity of a voter. However, in order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her name figures in the Electoral Rolls, separate instructions will be issued to allow additional documents for identification of voters at the time of poll in the said bye-elections.

MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

The Model Code of Conduct shall come into force with immediate effect in the district(s) in which the whole or any part of the Parliamentary Constituency/Assembly Constituencies going for bye-elections is included, subject to partial modification as issued vide Commission’s instruction No. 437/INST/2012/CC&BE, dated 26^th April, 2012 (available on the Commission’s website). The Model Code of Conduct shall be applicable to all candidates, political parties and the State Governments concerned. The Model Code of Conduct shall also be applicable to the Union Government for the States concerned.