Gujarat Assembly polls may be over by November-end: State BJP chief; Congress says 'hijacking' of Constitutional bodies

C.R. Patil later clarifies he had not spoken to any poll authority and was only estimating the dates

Gujarat unit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief C.R. Patil on Monday claimed the upcoming Assembly elections in the State are likely to get over by November-end, unlike the last two polls that went on till mid-December.

Mr. Patil, who was addressing a "page samiti sammelan" in Anand city, some 80 kilometres away from Ahmedabad, however, was quick to add this was his "political estimation" and that he had not spoken to any poll authority.

The Opposition Congress latched onto Mr. Patil's statement with party leader Deepak Babaria claiming that it showed how the BJP-ruled Union Government had "weakened and hijacked" constitutional authorities like the Election Commission.

"I think the (Assembly) election will be over by November-end. During 2012 and 2017, polls were over by December 12. Nobody has told me this, nor have I talked to anyone regarding this," Mr. Patil said.

The 2017 Assembly elections were held in two phases on December 9 and 14, and the votes were counted on December 18.

The 2012 elections were also held in two phases on December 13 and 17, and the results were declared on December 20.

The term of the current Gujarat Assembly is set to expire on February 18, 2023.