A notification issued by Gujarat’s General Administration Department (GAD) has fuelled speculation about early polls being declared in the State.

According to sources, the government has initiated the process of preparing employee rosters and an inventory of the infrastructure and resources to be used for poll purposes.

However, leaders from the ruling BJP have denied that elections will take place before December 2017, when they are due.

“A government communique has been issued to Collectors and other offices to be involved during the election process. They have been asked to prepare a list of resources available to them including human resource and physical infrastructure. This is a routine process ahead of the elections. It doesn’t confirm an early poll,” a government source informed.

There has been talk of early Assembly polls ever since the BJP registered a spectacular win in Uttar Pradesh, and managed to form governments in Goa and Manipur..

However, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had earlier cleared the air about the possibility of early elections around July or September, saying the party had a five-year mandate and the government would complete its full term.

“It is not logical for the people to think about the early polls. This government still has some work to be done on the ground. Also, the outcome of the announcements made in the recent budget and events such as the employment fair, among others, will be visible only in the second half of the year. The party would not wish to let go of these achievements by calling for early polls,” said a senior BJP functionary.

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