The Congress in Gujarat seems to be in two minds as it made changes to its first list of candidates declared on Sunday, 19 November.
On 20 November, the Congress declared its second list – with four changes made to its first. The BJP, on the other hand, declared its third list on 20 November, and a fourth one the next day.
The grand old party is yet to declare names for three seats for the first phase of the Gujarat elections. These are likely to be announced on 21 November, the last date of filing nominations for the first phase.
New Faces
Among the nine new names that the Congress has issued are that of Pradyumansinh Jadeja, who has been given the ticket from Abdasa seat, Shaktisinh Gohil, the sitting MLA from Abdasa who will contest this election from Mandvi, Congress leader Aadam B Chaki, who will contest from Bhuj, and Santok Arethiya who will contest from Rapar. In Jamnagar, Jiwan Kumbharvadia will contest polls from Jamnagar North while Ashok Lal will contest from Jamnagar South.
Mithul Donga has been issued a ticket from Rajkot East. Indranil Rajyaguru, the sitting MLA from Rajkot East will contest this election against Chief Minister Vijay Rupani from Rajkot West seat, according to the first list. Meanwhile, Dinesh Chovatiya is the Congress candidate for Rajkot South.
BJP’s Curated Third List
In its third list on 20 November, the BJP dropped 15 sitting MLAs and added 15 Patidar names.
Gujarat Assembly Speaker Raman Vora has been issued a ticket from Dasada seat in Surendranagar by dropping Poonam Makwana, who is the parliamentary secretary from the area. Vora is the sitting MLA from from Idar in Sabarkantha.
Former BJP state president RC Faldu, a Patidar, has been issued a ticket from Jamnagar South, a seat that was won in the 2012 assembly polls by Vasuben Trivedi – a close aide of former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
Former state finance minister and sitting MLA from Akota constituency in Vadodara, Saurabh Patel, has been fielded from Botad. After the Congress fielded Shaktisinh Gohil from Mandvi, the BJP fielded Virendrasinh Jadeja.
Congress Modifies List After PAAS Protests
The first list of Congress candidates triggered violent clashes between Congress and Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) workers late on 19 November in Surat and Ahmedabad.
Hardik Patel’s PAAS took strong objection to the 77 names announced by Gujarat Congress in its first list of candidates for the Assembly elections next month, especially after Amit Thummar’s name featured on the list.
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