Gujarat Election 2017: 13 women elected this time, 3 less than 2012

Fewer women were fielded by both the BJP and Congress in Gujarat this time compared to the 2012 Assembly elections, and their number in the new Assembly too has dwindled.

Thirteen women, nine from the BJP and four from the Congress, were elected to the Assembly this time, against 16 in 2012.

The BJP and Congress fielded 12 and 10 women candidates, respectively, in the 2017 elections.

In 2012 the two main parties had fielded 33 women candidates -- 19 by the BJP and 14 by the Congress. Among the winners then 12 were from the BJP and four from the Congress.

BJP candidate from Choryasi Zankhanaben Patel registered an impressive victory by defeating her Congress rival Yogesh Patel by over 1.10 lakh votes.

In another interesting contest, BJP candidate from Bhavnagar-East and sitting MLA Vibhavari Dave defeated Congress's Nitaben Rathod. Nimaben Acharya and Sangitaben Patil also retained Bhuj and Limbayat seats, respectively.

Other women candidates from the BJP who won include Malti Maheshwari from Gandhidham, Suman Chauhan from Kalol (Panchmahals), Manisha Vakil (Vadodara city), Geetaba Jadeja (Gondal) and Simaben Mohile (Akita).

Congress MLA Tejashree Patel, who had switched sides during the Rajya Sabha election, was fielded by the BJP from Viramgam, but she lost.

Congress fielded women candidates from Bhavnagar (East), Dahegam, Garbada, Maninagar, Navsari, Sanand, Umreth, Unjha, Vav and Rapar.

Of them, Unjha candidate Ashaben Patel registered an impressive victory over her nearest BJP rival Narayanbhai Patel by over 19,500 votes. Vadnagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hometown, is located in the same constituency.

Chandrikaben Baria retained her ST-reserved Garbada seat, defeating BJP's Mahendra Bhabhor by over 16,000 votes.

Geniben Thakor (Vav) and Santok Arethia (Rapar) of the Congress too won this time.