Gujarat Assembly poll dates likely after Oct 25

New Delhi: After a long dilemma over Gujarat elections date, sources confirmed that the date would be declared after 'Labh Panchami' on October 25. The Election Commission of India also asserted on Thursday that the polls will be held before December 18, while Himachal Pradesh elections will take place on November 9.

The state has already become an epicentre of political conflicts as model code of conduct will soon come into effect. Significantly, most political parties are focusing on the backward class, which accounts for 45 per cent of the state's population.

In two important developments, prominent Patidar faces and Hardik Patel's two close aides Varun Patel and Reshma Patel joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and popular OBC face Alpesh Thakor confirmed that he would join Congress.

Varun and Reshma were among the prominent faces of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and remained critical of the ruling BJP. However, they decided to join the saffron party after a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and state party chief Jitu Vaghani during its parliamentary board meeting, which was also attended by BJP president Amit Shah.

On the contrary, the convener of the OBC, SC and ST Ekta Manch Alpesh Thakor would join Congress after the party's vice-president Rahul Gandhi will attend the Janadesh Sammelan on October 23.

State Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki also invited Hardik Patel to join hands with the party. Solanki even promised to give an additional 20 per cent reservation to economically backward classes in the state if the Congress is voted to power in the upcoming assembly polls. The party brass also confirmed that another prominent Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani might be joining the party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too visited the poll-bound state for thrice in October so far and launched several developmental schemes.