Gandhinagar, 16 February 2012

Gandhinagar district’s Mansa assembly constituency will witness by-election on 18th of March. The Election Commission of India today declared the programme of by-elections in 12 assembly constituencies of Karnataka(1), Andhra Pradesh(7), Gujarat(1), Kerala(1), Tamil Nadu(1), and Odisha(1).

According to this announcement, the date of issue of notification will be 22nd of February. Last date of making nominations will be 29 February. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on 1st of March while last date for withdrawal of candidatures will be 3rd March. The date of poll has been fixed as 18th of March. Counting will take place on 21st of March. The election will be completed before 25th of March.

Voting will take place between 8.00 am to 5.00 pm through electronic voting machines.

Election Commission has made voter identification mandatory. 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.

The model code of conduct is now in force with immediate effect in Gandhinagar district in which the town of Mansa is located.

Why by-election in Mansa

Mansa was lastly represented by BJP MLA Shri Mangalbhai Patel(68) who passed away on 15th of November last year in Gandhinagar civil hospital. Shri Patel first became MLA in 1998. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2007 from Mansa. During this period he became Chairman of Panchayati raj committee, BJP’s Chief whip in Vidhansabha and Speaker.

As per the provision in law, an assembly seat can not remain vacant for more than six months, therefore an announcement of by-election in Mansa was expected any time.

Politics on ground

BJP is in good standing here, however the district panchayat is ruled by Congress party. It’s a troubled district panchayat where Thakor community members of Congress have openly revolted. Mansa was formerly in Mehsana district, and even today it is considered as a north Gujarat town. So far as Congress party is concerned, Mansa and entire Gandhinagar district is influenced by two leaders, one is Shankersinh Vaghela while other is CJ Chavda. In past their differences had created trouble for the party while selecting district panchayat president.Shankersinh had organized a rally in Mansa few weeks back and had started Sardar Sandesh Yatra from this town. Shri Narendra Modi had organized his district wise Sadbhavana fast in Mansa, which was planned even before the sad demise of Mangaldasbhai. In last few weeks, about a dozen ministers of Modi government have visited Mansa for inaugurations or stone laying ceremonies. BJP had organized late MLA’s shok sabha in every village of this constituency.

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