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Surendranagar (Gujarat) Election 2019: Munjapara Mahendrabhai of BJP takes on Somabhai Gandalal of Congress

Gandhinagar: In the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, electorates from Surendranagar cast their vote in the third phase on April 23. Surendranagar, which is a part of Saurashtra, has the second-highest rate of development in Gujarat. 

In the previous Lok Sabha elections, Fatepara Devajibhai Govindbhai from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defeated Congress candidate by more than two lakh votes.

The Congress's contender was Koli Patel Somabhai Gandalal.  

However, the grand old party has once again fielded Koli Patel Somabhai Gandalal from Surendranagar. On the other hand, BJP has not given the ticket to its sitting MP and is instead backing Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai from its symbol. Both the parties have given the ticket to candidates from Koli community, a majority group of Surendranagar. 

Interestingly, the most number of candidates, 31, are contesting from Surendranagar. Lalji Mer and Davji Dekavadiya are also not making lie easy to Congress and BJP. Mer is a former BJP MLA while Dekavadiya is the nominee of former VHP leader Praveen Togadia's party. 

Both Mer and Patel are of Tarbada Koli sub-caste which can lead to the division of votes. The BJP candidate belongs to Thakor Koli sub-caste. 

In 2017 assembly elections, Congress won six out of the seven constituencies from Surendranagar and therefore is a strong contender in this rural seat. 

Also, since 1991, Surendranagar has been alternatively won by Congress and BJP. Both parties have failed to retain this seat after a term of five years which illustrates that anti-incumbency will play a significant factor from this region. 

All the 26 constituencies of Gujarat voted in the third phase on 23rd April. The voting for the fifth phase will be on 6th May while the final phase will go to polls on 19th May. Results of all the constituencies will be declared on 23rd May. 

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