Guj govt declares holiday in Jasdan for Dec 20 bypoll

In view of the upcoming by-election to the Jasdan Assembly seat in Rajkot district of Gujarat on December 20, the state government Tuesday declared a holiday for the constituency on the day of polling.

To help voters in exercising their franchise without any trouble, the government declared December 20 as a public holiday for all the areas which fall under Jasdan constituency.

In a release, the General Administration Department (GAD) said, registered voters working in government offices outside the limits of the constituency can avail half-day leave to come to Jasdan and cast their vote.

Government employees can also seek permission from their superiors to come late or leave early in order to exercise their franchise, the GAD said.

While the BJP has fielded state cabinet minister Kunvarji Bavalia, opposition Congress has chosen Avsar Nakiya as its candidate for the bypoll.

The by-election was necessitated after Bavaliya, who won from Jasdan on Congress ticket in 2017 Assembly polls, resigned from the party and also as a Congress MLA on July 2 this year.

On the same day, he was inducted as a cabinet minister in the BJP government in the state.

To continue as a minister, Bavaliya will have to get elected as an MLA within six months of assuming the office.

Counting of votes will be conducted on December 23.