Amit Shah, Smriti Iran, Balwantsinh Rajput file nomination for Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat

Ahmedabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, Union Minister Smriti Irani and Balwantsinh Rajput on Friday filed their nomination papers for Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat.

The three BJP leaders were accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and senior party leader Anandiben Patel to the Election Commission office.

Shah, currently a MLA in Gujarat, will be making his debut in Parliament once he is elected, given the numbers the ruling BJP enjoys in the state Assembly.

The BJP on Tuesday announced that Shah and Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani will contest Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat.

Amit Shah, who was elected as an MLA from Sarkhej in four consecutive elections in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2007 was instrumental in scripting BJP's victory in 2014 Assembly elections.

Irani, whose Rajya Sabha term from Gujarat comes to an end on August 18, will be renominated by the BJP for the seat.