Gujarat polls: Seats have changed, not Modi's comrades

Delimitation and anti-incumbency are perhaps the only changes that the Gujarat BJP has seen when it comes to putting candidates for the next Assembly candidates. Chief Minister Narendra Modi has reposed his faith on his trusted lieutenants as all members of his cabinet except for one will contest the polls. “Apart from minister of education and sports, Jaysinh Chauhan, all other ministers have got tickets. However, it must be noted that Chauhan’s constituency Prantij has been excluded in the first as well as second list. Looking at Modi’s ‘no drop theory’, his name may also be included in the list"— a DNA report said.[caption id=“attachment_541237” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] Minister for Tribal Development Jaswantsinh Bhabhor was shifted to Limkheda (reserved seat) as the delimitation exercise dissolved the Randhikpur constituency. In case of Jaswantsinh Bhabhor, minister for tribal development, it was a forced decision to move to Limkheda (reserved seat) since his Randhikpur constituency seized to exists after delimitation. Minister of Revenue Anandiben Patel moved from Patan to Ghatlodia while Minister for State for Energy, Finance, Petroleum and Industry Saurabh Patel shifted from Akota from Botad fearing anti-incumbency, the DNA report said. Gujarat votes on 13 and 17 December in a two-phase poll. The counting is scheduled on 20 December.