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Gujarat is economically one of the fastest growing states in India. It's GDP per capita income is twice that of entire India as a whole! Ahmedabad was ranked number 3 in the list of world's fastest growing cities in 2010. Gujarat also happens to be the only state in India with surplus electricity.
Congress was a dominant party in the state from its formation in 1960 to about 1995. Then Bhartiya Janata Party came to power under the leadership of Keshubhai Patel. But in just two years time, BJP leader Shankersinh Vaghela rebelled and formed a Govt with the help of Congress. Keshubhai Patel was able to become the CM once again in 1998, but after loss of assembly seats in by-polls, he resigned and the Govt went in the hands of Narendra Modi. Currently, after 3 terms now, Narendra Modi is the longest serving Chief Minsiter of Gujarat.
14 Chief Ministers have ruled Gujarat since its formation in 1960. But Narendra Modi's reign has been so far the most productive as well as most controversial. Ever since the Godhra riots in Feb 2002, Congress has been on offensive, trying to label Modi as a Hindu leader. However, such branding has not yielded positive results for Congress yet as both Hindus and Muslims are now reaping the benefits of development in the state.
Congress supremo, Sonia Gandhi, has in the past used extremely harsh language against Narendra Modi, even calling him 'Maut Ka Saudagar', but Modi has always kept the high ground and responded with victories in polls. 2012 elections are not going to be decisive for Modi, it's going to be more of a question of survival for Congress. Congress has been stepping up its attack on Modi and if it fails to do any better than 2007, it'd just have to accept that Modi has become a mass leader, and is not just a Hindu leader as projected by Congress.
Update: March 21st 2012
In a major setback to BJP plans for Gujarat elections 2012, Congress won the Mansa assembly seat in the recently help by-polls. Mansa seat was held for four consecutive terms by BJP and in one of the last polls before the Assembly elections in the State, Narendra Modi would have hoped that his good governance will see BJP win. A Congress win now is significant as the elections are just few months away.
Some facts on Gujarat Assembly Polls 2012:
| Districts | Total Constituencies | Electoral Rolls | Polling Stations |
| 25 |
182 |
36591717 |
40468 |
Gujarat Election Results:
General Elections 2009:
In the 2009 General Elections, Congress did surprise many by winning 11 seats while BJP won 15. Detailed Gujarat election results are here.
Assembly Results for Gujarat in 2006:
Despite being a large state, UP has generally seen a one party rule. Mayawati had a clear majority in 2006 polls winning 206 seats, while SP faired pretty bad with just 97 seats.
| Political Party | Contested | Won |
| BJP |
206 |
117 |
| Cong |
173 |
59 |
| NCP |
10 |
3 |
| JD(U) |
35 |
1 |
| IND |
480 |
2 |
Detailed coverage of Gujarat 2007 Assembly results is here.
Gujarat Assembly Constituencies for 2012 Elections:
There would be a total of 182 Vidhansabha seats from 25 districts of Gujarat going to polls for Gujarat 2012 Assembly elections.
Click the district names below to get election information on the constituencies:
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