Gujarat BJP has taken the decision to invite lK Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister under then Vajpayee Government, to contest from Gandhinagar constituency in the State BJP’s parliamentary board meeting held at the Gujarat Chief Minister’s residence on Tuesday.
In the meeting attended by senior BJP leaders in the State — including NDA’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi — suitable names for all the 26 lok Sabha constituencies were discussed. In fact, a list of panels, consisting three names for 25 lok Sabha constituencies, has been prepared. However, for the Gandhinagar constituency, the State BJP unit has only given the name of veteran leader lK Advani.
Confirming the development, Gujarat BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani, has clarified that the list — approved by the Gujarat BJP parliamentary board — will be submitted to the national parliamentary board and the final list would be announced from New Delhi.
“Advaniji is our respected leader. He is also the sitting MP from Gandhinagar constituency. BJP workers in Gujarat have great respect for him and they would request the Central parliamentary board to field his nomination from Gandhinagar,” Rupani told The Pioneer, adding that however, the final decision on the national leader will be taken by the Central parliamentary board on Wednesday.
Talking about Narendra Modi’s candidature from Gujarat, the former Rajya Sabha member said that though Modi’s name is not there in any panel prepared for 25 constituencies, but the Gujarat BJP has conveyed the desire of six crore Gujaratis to the Central board to field his nomination from Gujarat too.
“The decision to field Modi from Varanasi was strategic. Since Narendrabhai’s development has evolved Gujarat, the State BJP wishes that he should contest from one of the seats in Gujarat. As per the Election Commission’s rule, one candidate can contest from two seats, so there would be no legal hitch if he contests from Gujarat,” he said.