The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party obtained a simple majority with an increase in the vote share. Despite suffering a decrease in the number of seats, the incumbent government retained a simple majority in the house. The vote share and number of seats for Congress increased from the previous election in 2012. This was the highest number of seats won by the Congress in the last 32 years (after the 1985 election, in which Congress won 149 seats). The next election was held in December 2022.
Gujarat, like the other states of India, follows parliamentary system of government. The government is responsible for the Legislative Assembly and stays in power only if it has the support of a majority of its members. Elections take place on a first-past-the-post basis: the candidate with the most votes wins the seat regardless of an absolute majority. Every citizen of the state who is 18 and above is eligible to vote. The respective governors of the state then invite the leader of the largest party or coalition to form the government. The Constitution of India states that the term of Legislative Assemblies is five years. As is common in most other first-past-the-post electoral systems, the state's politics are dominated by two parties – the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[citation needed]
VVPAT-fitted EVMs were used in the entire Gujarat state at 50,128 polling stations in the 2017 elections, which was the first time that the entire state saw the implementation of VVPAT.[2] VVPAT slips were counted in a polling station in each of Gujarat's 182 constituencies.[3][4] There were 43.3 million registered voters in Gujarat as of 25 September 2017.[5]
Demographics
Other Backward Castes, excluding Muslim OBCs, comprised 48% of the total population of Gujarat.[6][7][8] 147 communities were considered to be OBCs at the time of the election.[9] Scheduled tribes (primarily Adivasis) comprised 15.5% of the population, while scheduled castes (Dalits) totalled 7%.[10][11] Muslims of various castes constituted 9.7% of the population.[12]Forward castes and others made up the remainder.
Campaigns
Bhartiya Janata Party
Jaitley said continuous growth, unity and concern for every section are main ingredients of BJP manifesto. He said social polarization path attempted by Congress will harm the State like what happened in the decade of 1980s.Jaitley said Congress had mentioned some programmes that are already implemented by BJP government. The government is already giving minimum support price for ground nut, delivering crop insurance, assistance for check dam and drip irrigation, loan under Mudra schemes[13][14]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed 34 public rallies in his home state.[15]
Continue with the current policies for improving farm income
To continue with Cooperative milk societies and animal welfare
Effective implementation of law against cow slaughter
Youth Proposals:
To open up more industrial cluster to increase Employment
To encourage start-ups through skill development and Economic support
Labour & remuneration policies to reflect current needs
Along with govt policies to have results oriented employment policies
To establish Gujarat Olympic Mission
To create modern sports facilities and provide economic support for sports persons
To encourage traditional sports
For Women:
To set up a fund for women empowerment schemes
Free higher education for women
Healthcare facilities for women
New women oriented policies
To increase widow pension from time to time
Education Policy:
To expand policies for welfare of girl child and schooling
To expand foundational education
To include new technological innovations in educations
More importance to vocational education
To better implement fee control in Private schools
To create world class universities in the state
Healthcare:
To provide better facilities for treatment of grave illnesses in district hospitals
To increase availability of generic and affordable medicines
To set up mobile clinics and 252 government diagnostic laboratories
To free Gujarat of vector-borne diseases by 2022
Village Development:
Cement houses for poor families
All houses to have plumbing and toilet facilities
To bring in waste disposal units
Better transportation and connectivity for rural areas
Urban Development:
Timely implementation of smart city projects
Effective and smart traffic management systems
Surat and Vadodhara to have metro train services
Pipe gas connections in all houses
AC- Bus services in major cities
Playground facilities for children in all sectors
Multi-level parking facilities
Control on unlawful occupation of land
Industrial Policies:
Policy based industrial growth
Encouragement to Employment oriented industries
Regulated policy for industries
New policy for Semi-conductor and Telecommunications industries
Government to collaborate with GIDC for global competitive industrial policies
Better interest rates for SME lending
To create help centres for entrepreneurs
To ease licensing policy for Small traders via online
Accounting services to be provided at affordable rates
Considerable improvement in policies for co-operative societies
Revival of closed co-operative units
Tribal Welfare:
Effective implementation of tribal protection laws
To create Tribal Development Board at district level
To create registered Tribal committees
To provide irrigation facilities in 4 lakh hectares of land in North-east tribal areas
Special policies for Agariya communities
Better implementation of PESA Act
To provide land owner ship for all Tribals
To set-up International levels tribal universities
OBC Welfare:
To provide economic support for those in generational family businesses
To double the grant for Thakore and Koli development corporation
Expansion of Self-employement schemes
SC and ST Welfare:
To create a committee for their betterment
Easing of processes for obtaining caste certificate and BPL card
Cement houses for everybody
Better opportunity for education, healthcare and employment
Creation of hawking zones for hawkers
Dalit Welfare:
Effective protection of Dalits
Economic support through Dr BhimRao Ambedkar Education fund
Increase in schools
Financial support for Dalit workers
Poor Labourers and Workers:
100% coverage under Suraksha Bhima Yojana
Cement Houses for all
Affordable healthcare
Affordable food policies to be expanded in cities
Financially Backward Communities:
To fund secondary and high education of students
Financial security through Jan Dhan and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana
New policies for holistic development of poor
Better opportunities for employment
Ports:
Develop ports and better marine traffic routes
To expand RORO ferry services
To provide financial support to communities dependent on sea
To give financial support for Modern equipment
To create Marine product laboratory for improvement of manufacturing
Transparent and Better Governance:
Administrative public outreach programme
Karm-yogi Abhiyaan for Government employees
Online services for registration and tax payment
Forceful implementation of Anti-liquor policies
Tourism:
To create Sardar Patel Statue at Karmsad
New tourism circuits
To create yoga and medication centre in Saurashtra in association with Somnath University
To promote Handicraft festivals
To create memorials for great Gujarati personalities
Better facilities for Pilgrims
Cultural Policies:
To promote language, literature and dance forms
To promote ras-garba and traditional art forms
To encourage music along with literature and language
To create and expand Art festivals
To reserve position in Girnar authority Board for saints
To support for religious festivals like Maha Shivratri & Lili Parikarma
Senior Citizens:
Timely increase in old-age pension
To provide government services at home
Expand the Shravan tirth policy
For NRI Gujarati:
Gujarat tour services for NRIs
To immediately resolve issues of NRIs
To promote Gujarati cultural activities outside India
Indian National Congress
Manifesto:[19]
Woman and Healthcare:
Housing for women of all communities
Free education for girls from primary to higher education
Loans for women to start small businesses
Universal healthcare card
Farmers:
Loan waiver
Free water
16-hour daytime power
Effective crop insurance
Rural and Housing:
Each village to have sanitation and drinking water
25 Lakh houses in 5 years in urban and rural areas
Business, Law & Order:
Ending of Gundaraj in Gujarat
Establishing fast-track courts for serious crimes
HC bench in Surat, Rajkot
cost of living and inflation:
Petrol, diesel cheaper by Rs 10
50% reduction in property tax for small shopkeepers
Up to 50% reduction in electricity rates
For youth & students:
Unemployment allowance of up to Rs 4,000 to youth
Rs 32,000 cr fund for employment to 25 lakh youth
Withdrawal of contractual outsourcing and filling of government vacancies
Scholarship for poor and middle-class families
Conversion of all self-financed courses into govt-aid courses to reduce fee burden
Free laptops and phones to college students
Polls
Opinion polls
Election schedule
Exit polls
Exit polls were released on the evening of 14 December.
Results
The votes were counted on 18 December 2017. Over 1.9% of all voters in the election specified the None of the Above (NOTA) option, which amounted to more than 500,000 votes.[27]
Regions of Gujarat with their constituencies
Results by region
Results by district
Results by constituency
[29]
By-Elections
2019
2020
In March 2020, five Congress MLAs from Gujarat resigned, bringing its tally down to 68. Three more resigned in June 2020, making it 65.[30] The BJP subsequently won all eight seats in November by-elections with absolute majorities of the vote.[31]
^"Gujarat Assembly elections on Dec 9, 14". The Hindu Business Line. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
^"Explained: What is VVPAT".
^"In a first, EC to hold mandatory VVPAT count at one polling station of each constituency".
^Service, Tribune News. "VVPAT slips to be cross-matched with EVM count, says Una DC". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
^Reporter, B. S. (10 October 2017). "Gujarat elections will be held in December, EVM VVPATs to be used: EC". Business Standard India. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
^"Gujarat Assembly election: OBCs, intermediate castes can sway poll outcome in 70 seats".
^"OBCs to play kingmaker in battle for Gujarat".
^"New caste equations taking shape before Gujarat elections".
^"Caste equations: Will Congress' best-laid plans work out in north Gujarat?".
^"In Gujarat's Adivasi belt, BJP has to contend with Bhilistan separatists, boycotts and 'big people'".
^"The Dalit agitation may not harm the BJP in poll-bound Gujarat. But Punjab and UP are another story".
^"Gujarat's Muslims out of poll picture in elections 2017".
^"Gujarat BJP launches its manifesto for assembly elections 2017". DeshGujarat. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^"Gujarat Election Result 2017: Top 10 Allegations And Controversies During Poll Campaign". NDTV.com. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^"Gujarat Assembly elections: 34 rallies by PM Modi, 30 by Rahul Gandhi plus his 12 temple visits". The Indian Express. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^PTI. "Day Ahead Of Voting In Gujarat, BJP Releases Manifesto". BQ Prime. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^"Day before Gujarat votes, BJP finally releases manifesto, says Congress making tall election promises". India Today. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^"Gujarat elections 2017: BJP manifesto promises loans, funds for farmers, Kolis, Thakors". The Indian Express. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^"Gujarat Elections 2017: Congress Manifesto to beat Modi's BJP - Congress Manifesto". The Economic Times. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^"ABP News Opinion Poll: BJP set to sweep Gujarat". ABP Live. 31 August 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
^"Gujarat Opinion Poll: Pride for Gujarati PM biggest challenge for Congress alliance". ABP Live. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
^"Gujarat Assembly elections 2017: Times Now-VMR opinion survey gives BJP the upper hand". Times Now. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
^"Gujarat Opinion Poll: BJP set to retain its saffron fortress, Congress improves vote share". ABPLive. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
^"Gujarat Opinion Poll: BJP set to retain its saffron fortress, Congress improves vote share". ABPLive. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
^"Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017: Times Now-VMR opinion survey predicts BJP victory". Times Now. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
^ a b c d e f g h i"Exit polls predict BJP victory in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh". Business Standard. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
^Pandey, Devesh K. (18 December 2017). "NOTA votes made a difference in 24 seats". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
^"How different regions of Gujarat voted in 2012 and why Saurashtra holds the key this time". India Today. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
^"Gujarat assembly election results 2017: Complete list of winners". 18 December 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
^"Gujarat Congress MLAs resign, race wide open for fourth Rajya Sabha seat". 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
^"By election 2020 results".
External links
Election Commission of India
Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Official website Archived 2017-09-18 at the Wayback Machine
