Lok Sabha Elections: Will There Be A Congress Tide Again In Amreli?

Amreli is an important Lok Sabha constituency for the Congress and the BJP. It encompasses the entire Amreli district and parts of Bhavnagar. This constituency has been a citadel for the BJP since 1991, with seven out of eight elections were in favour of the BJP. The 2004 election was the only exception. Narabhai Kacchadiya served as the Amreli MP for the last three terms.

Observing the current political scenario, the ruling party decided to field Bharatbhai Manubhai Sutariya, the 54-year-old candidate, from the constituency. He has a strong connection at the grass-roots level. The Congress nominated Jennyben Thummar, who has been the president of the Gujarat Pradesh Mahila Congress since 2018. She has a political lineage, as her father, Virjibhai Thummar, was elected from the same constituency under the banner of Congress in 2004.

Amreli constituency came into existence in 1957. This constituency has been a bastion of Congress since the post independence era for 40 years. From 1957 to 1984, Congress won all the elections. In 1989, Manu Kotadia from Janata Dal won the se

at in alliance with the BJP. In 1991, the BJP won the election, and they repeated their victory until 2019, except in 2004. In 2004, Virjibhai Thummar became the MP of Amreli on a Congress ticket.

In the 2017 assembly elections, five out of seven assemblies were in favour of Congress, while the remaining two supported the BJP. Despite the decline of seats in the 2022 assembly election, Congress has hope to retake the Lok Sabha constituency as well as the next assembly seats. In the recent assembly election, six assemblies were in favour of the BJP, while the Aam Admi Party (AAP) secured one seat and Congress turned zero. As AAP and Congress allied for this election, this alliance gives Congress a chance. Besides, it hopes that the comprehensive manifesto of Congress could aid changes as well.

(This story is part of a Timeline. internship project.)