Gujarat Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Voting date, results, candidates, main parties and schedule

The voting in the third phase will begin at 7 am on May 7 and conclude at 6 pm.

Home to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat will vote in the third phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 7.

The state has 26 Lok Sabha seats. But polling will be conducted in only 25 seats as recently BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was elected unopposed from the Surat Lok Sabha seat. The nomination of Congress leader Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected while other candidates withdrew from the contest. In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the state witnessed a historic clean sweep by BJP.  The Congress is contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the state in alliance with the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Here are the key candidates and constituencies to watch out for in Gujarat.

Kachchh: Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi of the BJP will be up against Nitishbhai Lalan from Congress. In 2019, Chavda beat Congress candidate Naresh Naranbhai Maheshwari and secured 63,7034 votes.  The seat comprises the entire Kachchh and part of the Morbi districts.

Patan: The BJP has fielded Bharatsinhji Dabhi while the Congress has named Chandanji Thakor from the seat. The 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections saw BJP candidates Liladhar Vaghela and Bharatsinhji Dabhi Thakor win respectively. In 2019, BJP’s Bharatsinhji Dabhi Thakor won this constituency with 633,368 votes.

Gandhinagar: BJP senior leader Amit Shah, who is eyeing a second term from Gandhinagar, won this seat with a margin of over 557,000 votes in 2019. Shah is up against former president of Gujarat Mahila Congress, Sonal Patel. The seat, known as the BJP turf, was long held by party veteran Lal Krishna Advani.

Mahesana: BJP candidate Haribhai Patel will be locking horns with Congress leader Ramji Thakor. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP’s Shardaben Anilbhai Patel defeated Congress leader AJ Patel. This constituency is spread across Gandhinagar and Mehsana districts, marked by a significant Patel population, particularly the Kadva Patel sub-group. This region was a focal point for the Patidar reservation movement led by Patidar leader Hardik Patel.

Ahmedabad East: BJP candidate Hasmukh Bhai Somabhai Patel will lock horns with Congress leader Rohan Gupta. In 2019, Patel secured 7,45,810 votes by defeating Congress leader Gitaben Patel. In 2019, this constituency had the highest number of “crorepati” candidates in Gujarat.

Ahmedabad West: This constituency has been a stronghold of the BJP for many years. The party fielded Dinesh Kodarbhai Makwana while Congress named Bharat Makwana. In the last Lok Sabha polls, Dr Kirit P Solanki, who is also the current MP of the region, defeated Congress candidate Raju Parmar.

Jamnagar: BJP’s Jamnagar Lok Sabha candidate Poonam Maadam is the richest in the poll fray in Gujarat with assets of Rs 147 crore. Maadam is up against Congress leader JP Marvia.In 2019, Madaam had won by defeating Congress candidate Kandoriya Mulubhai Ranmalbhai.

Rajkot: This constituency has given the BJP consistent wins since 1989, except in 2009 when Congress' leader Kunvarji Bavalia won the seat. Union Minister and PM Modi’s close aide Parshottam Rupala is up against Congress leader Paresh Dhanani this time.

Porbandar: Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya, a Leuva Patidar has been fielded by BJP from this seat. The BJP has been winning Porbandar seat since 1991, with 2009 being an exception when Congress leader Vitthal Radadia won.

Sabarkantha: In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP’s Deep Singh Rathore won by defeating Congress leader Rajendrasinh Shivsinh. However, this time, the party fielded Shobhna Baraiya against Congress leader Tushar Chaudhary. The BJP had earlier given the ticket to Bhikaji Damor. However, owing to an alleged controversy over whether he belonged to the Damor or Thakur communities, the party is believed to have dropped him.

The voting in the third phase will begin at 7 am on May 7 and conclude at 6 pm.