The Election Commission has announced the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Votes across all 543 parliamentary seats will be cast over seven phases. The first phase is on April 19, followed by the second on April 26, the third on May 7, fourth on May 13, fifth on May 20, sixth on May 25, and the final phase on June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.
With the election announcement, all eyes are set on the leading political parties, top national leaders, and star campaigners. Among the high-profile candidates is India's current Home Minister, Amit Shah.
The BJP has once again fielded Amit Shah from the Gandhinagar constituency in Gujarat for the upcoming general elections. The party's initial candidate list, released on March 2, confirms Shah's nomination.
When Gandhinagar Goes to Polls
Voting for all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will occur on the same day, with Gandhinagar casting its votes during the third phase on May 7. The counting of votes for all the parliamentary seats is scheduled on June 4.
Amit Shah's Commanding Performance in 2019
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah, then the BJP National President, secured over 890,000 votes from the Gandhinagar seat. It was Shah's inaugural electoral fight, and he emerged victorious with an approximately 70% vote share.
Shah's nearest competitor from the Congress party, Dr. CJ Chavda, garnered close to 300,000 votes. Amit Shah triumphed with a significant lead of over 550,000 votes, surpassing Advani's record who had won by a margin of 483,000 votes.
Gandhinagar: A Legacy Constituency
Prior to Amit Shah, the Gandhinagar seat was a stronghold of the veteran BJP leader LK Advani, who had won the seat six times. Advani first represented this region in 1991 and had maintained a winning streak for five consecutive terms. In 2019, Shah broke Advani's record with his decisive victory.
BJP's Sweep in Gujarat in the 2019 Elections
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP clinched all 26 seats in Gujarat, leaving none for the Congress. While BJP maintained its dominance from the 2014 elections, it increased its vote share from 59.1% in 2014 to 62% in 2019. Interestingly, while BJP's vote share increased, the Congress did not see a decline, maintaining around 32% of the votes. The shares of other parties decreased from 8% in 2014 to 6% in 2019.
