The counting of votes is underway for the Jasdan assembly bypoll in Gujarat, which is being keenly watched by the Congress and the ruling BJP against the backdrop of the saffron party's debacle in three core Hindi states in recent assembly elections. Voting for the much-hyped byelection in Jasdan was held on December 20 where eight candidates are in fray to contest the polls. It is being seen as a high-stakes battle as it will put to test Bharatiya Janata Party's strategy in the crucial Saurashtra region ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Jasdan in Saurashtra region's Rajkot district has been a pocket borough of the opposition Congress and Bavaliya, who is a prominent Koli community leader. The election was necessitated after cabinet minister Kunwarji Bavaliya quit the Congress to join the ruling BJP, which elevated him the same day recently. After the exit of Bawaliya, the Congress has fielded another strong candidate from the Koli community, Avshar Nakia, who is known to have a strong ground connect, which analysts say will help him give a good fight to the BJP. Nakiya, a Rajkot district panchayat member who had once worked closely with Bavaliya, a five-time MLA, contested the assembly election for first time in his life.from IndiaTV: Google News Feed http://bit.ly/2EKehO8
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