Battle for Gujarat: A look at the state's electoral history

Women trail men in voting turnout
After 1980, more than 60 per cent lost their deposits Time for more women to enter the fray Voter turnout ( per cent) The Election Commission has announced a two-phase election schedule for Gujarat. Elections to the state assembly will be held on December 9 and 14, and results announced on December 18. Eighty-nine constituencies will go to polls in the first phase and 93 in the second.

All 50,128 polling stations, across 182 constituencies, will have voter verified paper audit trail ( VVPAT) machines. Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti maintained the delay in announcing the Gujarat poll was to ensure continuity in flood relief work in seven districts.

“Nothing is written in stone. Decisions are taken on the prevailing situation,” was his response to Opposition’s criticism on the delay in announcing the schedule. The poll may be viewed as a major test of the popularity of reforms initiated by the Modi government, including GST rollout and demonetisation.

The polls are equally important for the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the party’s campaign from the front when he is tipped to be elevated as party president. A look at Gujarat’s electoral history since 1962: