Gujarat has joined the ranks of states like Assam and Bihar with a low 10 candidates per seat ratio this Lok Sabha elections.
This is less than the the average 14 candidates in fray in 10 states and two union territories (UTs) for the third phase of elections which will go to polls on May 7.
There are fewer candidates battling it out this election in Gujarat.
Compared to 2019 when there were 371 candidates in fray on 26 seats, the number has dwindled to 266 this time, coming to average of 10 candidates per seat.
According to election records, the highest candidature was observed in the 1996 election at 577, and the lowest candidature was recorded in 1998 at 139.
There are total of 1,352 candidates in fray on 95 seats.
Assam (47 candidates for four seats), Bihar (54 candidates for five seats), and Uttar Pradesh (100 candidates for 10 seats) are some of the laggards in phase 3 of the polls as far as average candidates per seat is concerned.
In Surat BJP’s Mukesh Dalal was declared winner uncontested after his rival Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani’s candidature got rejected and eight others withdrew from the race. Bardoli has the lowest three candidates – one each from BJP and Congress, and one independent candidate.
Ahmedabad (East) has the highest 18 candidates. Home minister Amit Shah will contest against 13 others in Gandhinagar constituency, whereas Union ministers Parshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandaviya are battling eight and 11 opponents respectively.
A high number of form withdrawals and cancellation has also been seen this election – 43% candidates of Rajkot constituency, 42% of Ahmedabad (West) and 41% of Mehsana withdrew their candidature. On Surat seat, 12 of 24 or 50% of the forms were rejected, and 33% or eight candidates withdrew their candidature.
In absolute numbers, 17 candidates from Gandhinagar seat withdrew their candidature, whereas 14 others were rejected. In all, 53 had filed their nomination with Election Commission of India (ECI) for Gandhinagar constituency, one of the highest among 26 seats in the state.
In withdrawal of nomination papers, Gujarat is at the fourth position in the country with nearly 10% of the candidates calling it quits by the end of the third phase of the nomination process. Karnataka saw the highest 10.7% or 995 candidates papers before elections. Rajasthan and Maharashtra stood second and third with 10.3% and 10% of the candidates withdrawing.
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