On the last day of filing nomination for the 2nd and final phase of Gujarat Assembly polls, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced its last list of 34 candidates.
The final list had mix of experience, continuity and winnability, by BJP retaining names of 12 sitting legislators. Among the key candidates, Jaynarayan Vyas, former Minister in Keshubhai Patel Ministry and party spokesperson for long has again been fielded from Siddhpur constituency in North Gujarat. Vyas lost in 2012 Assembly polls against Balwantsinh Rajput, who has now jumped ship from Congress to BJP.
Kaushik Patel, former Energy Minister in Keshubhai Patel Government too has been brought back as party candidate from Naranpura constituency in Ahmedabad. In the last elections, Patel lost from Dariyapur Assembly constituency, now he will fight from Party president Amit Shah’s constituency who has vacated the seat after becoming Rajya Sabha member.
BJP has fielded 12 of the 16 sitting legislators in Ahmedabad. A BJP stronghold, the party currently holds 14 out of the 16 seats in this biggest city of the State. The only changes that have been made in the latest list is that of Ghatlodia, from where former chief minister Anandiben Patel was elected. Her confidante Bhupendra Patel has been fielded from her constituency instead. It was rumoured that the party could field her daughter Anar Patel from here.
The other surprising inclusion is that of former Home Minister Rajnibhai Patel from Bechraji in North Gujarat. Rajni Patel has had to resign as Home Minister of the State after Patel quota stir assumed huge proportions and there was massive anger against him. Rishikesh Patel too repeated from nearby constituency of Visnagar, the place from where Patel quota stir actually began.
The interesting exclusions include absence of name of Mahendrasinh Vaghela, son of former chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela. He was slated to be given ticket from Bayad after he joined BJP. However, his name was missing from the list. BJP has fielded Adesinh Chauhan from Bayad constituency. The other name missing was that of Minister of State for finance Rohit Patel from Anand.
Meanwhile, Opposition Congress had released its official list of 76 candidates for second phase on late Sunday night, a few hours ahead of deadline for filing nominations and having faced series of protests from its workers over nomination of candidates for first phase.