It seems speculation about Modi’s constituency is almost over as Gujarat BJP on Thursday had announced that the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate would contest from one seat of Gujarat.
During media interaction the State BJP general secretary, Vijay Rupani, confirmed that its almost finalised that Modi would contest from one seat in Gujarat, but from where is yet to be decided by the party leadership.
Rupani, who is considered as a close aide of Narendra Modi, also indicated that the Gujarat Chief Minister would fight from two constituencies, one from his home-State and other most probably from Uttar Pradesh.
Replying a question on whether Modi will fight elections from Varanasi, he diplomatically said that Narendra bhai might also fight elections on a second seat in UP, but cannot confim as the decision would be taken by the party’s central parliamentary board.
The former Rajya Sabha MP said that party workers in Gujarat were in upbeat mood. Especially in the four metro cities — Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot and Surat — from where everyone in the party wanted Modi to contest from Gujarat.
Taking about former Deputy Prime Minister and the saffron party’s veteran leader lK Advani, he said that he was holding Gandhinagar constituency from last five terms, but it would be up to the parliamentary board to decide on him.
BJP list for 26 lS seats to be declared after Holi
Aspirants in the saffron party for the 26 lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will have to wait for another week as the second meeting of the State BJP parliamentary board, over the distribution of tickets, would be held only after Holi. Narendra Modi’s close aide Rupani told the media during a meeting, that the party was not in a hurry to announce its candidates, especially in Gujarat as the State is going to vote on April 30 in the seventh phase of the general elections. Sources in the party said that generally in Gujarat people avoid commencing auspicious work eight days before Holi, which is called Holastak. Former BJP Chief Minister Keshubhai assumed power during Holastak and lost the seat within a year, despite being elected with a thumping majority in Gujarat Vidhan Sabha in 1995. Since then, the BJP in Gujarat avoids doing any positive work during the period.