New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued the third list of 28 names for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections on Monday. The party, which is ruling the state since 2002, denied tickets for 15 sitting MLAs, including three ministers.
Tarachand Chheda, Poonam Makwana, Jayanti Kavadiya, Bhanuben Babariya, Vasuben Trivedi, Arvind Ladani, Jetha Solanki, Vallabh Vaghasiya, T D Maniya, Praful Panseriya, Ajay Choksi, Janak Kachhadiya, Narottam Patel, Nanu Vanani and Puna Gamit are denied to re-nominate by the incumbent saffron party in this elections.
The list also includes names for the first phase which is scheduled on December 9. However, party veteran Narottam Patel—had been in CM Rupani's cabinet had declared his wish not to contest elections this time citing party's norm of leaders above 75 years' age not holding any position, sources said.
Meanwhile, former finance minister of the state of Gujarat Saurabh Patel and former party chief of the state unit R.C. Faldu could manage places in the third list. In the last year Patel was dropped from the new Chief Minister Vijay Rupani led cabinet and this time has been fielded from Botad, where he represents Akota in the outgoing assembly. Faldu will also contest from Jamnagar south. The party has dropped sitting MLA, former minister and former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel loyalist Vasuben Trivedi from this seat.
Former minister Govind Patel and speaker of the Guajarat Assembly Ramanlal Vora are also the important candidates in the list.
Considered as the most senior Dalit leader of Gujarat BJP, Vora has been granted ticket on Dasada constituency of Surendranagar district. He has been representing Idar constituency of Sabarkantha district for several terms.
Praful Pansheriya, Ajay Choksi and Janak Bagdanawala are the three names were representing the Patidar dominated seats in Surat and have been dropped.
Till now, BJP has announced over 134 candidates for elections to the 182 member Assembly of Gujarat to be held in two phases on December 9 and 14. The first phase will cover 89 constituencies in 19 districts, and the second phase 93 seats in 14 districts.