Gujarat to see feverish campaigning after brief holiday lull

Ahmedabad: Gujarat is expected to witness feverish electioneering in the coming days, after a lull in political campaigning because of Diwali and the Gujarati new year. “From Friday onwards all party workers have been asked organise gatherings in all constituencies to keep the momentum of campaigning alive,” a BJP source said. [caption id=“attachment_526067” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Narendra Modi campaigns in Gujarat. PTI[/caption] Traditionally in Gujarat, business and trade activities remain closed during Diwali and reopen only on the fifth day after Diwali. At present, there is an absolute lull in political campaigning across the state which will see assembly polls on 13 and 17 December. However, a crescendo of political activities are expected as BJP and Congress as well as the Gujarat Parivartan Party led by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel resumes campaigning soon. State Congress leaders like Gujarat’s Congress president Arjun Modhwadia and leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil are expected to visit New Delhi to meet central leaders for finalisation of the list of candidates for the first phase of elections. On 17 November, the Election Commission is expected to issue a notification for filing of nominations for phase one of elections, after which electioneering is expected to get hectic. In the first phase of elections, voting will take place for 87 constituencies including four in Ahmedabad rural area, 48 seats in all districts of Saurashtra region and 35 seats in south Gujarat. The focus will be on Saurashtra region, where the ruling BJP has to worry about how the Keshubhai factor will affect it. The Congress would also try its best to benefit from the situation. PTI