New Delhi, Nov 20: Former chief minister Keshubhai Patel is unlikely to contest the Gujarat Assembly elections even as suspense over ticket for Narendra Modi detractor and former state home minister Haren Pandya continued today. The BJP today released the second list of 11 party candidates for the polls, which did not include either Pandya's name or his constituency Ellisbridge. Pandya is also a prominent Patel loyalist.
Patel's constituency Visavadar has been give to Kansubhai Bhalala, a Taluka president and a Patel loyalist. Party sources said Patel was unlikely to contest the polls. A day after releasing the first list of 144 candidates, party general secretary and spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi made public the second list which included six sitting MLAs, a woman and a scheduled tribe candidate.
"The names for the remaining 27 seats would be announced shortly," Naqvi told.
Asked about the absence of Pandya's name from the list, Naqvi said "we have not received recommendation from the state election committee for some seats."
He also asserted that candidates to all seats were selected unanimously by the party leaders and there was no dispute whatsoever. Reacting to his non-inclusion in the second list as well, Pandya told a private television channel on phone from Ahmedabad that his supporters were concerned as his name was not there. He, however, expressed hope that the BJP leadership "which takes decisions with maturity in all situations will take a proper decision." Following are the names that figured in the second list: Chotia – Maheshbhai Makwana, Visavadar – Kansubhai Bhalala, Lathi – Bhecharbhi Bhadani, Dhari – Balubhai Tanti, Palitana – Dr Mansukhbhai Mandaviya, Kundala, Kalubhai Virani, Kankarej – Magansinh Vaghela, Deesa – Gordhansinh Mali, Santrampur – Prabodhkant Pandya, Bharuch – Ramesh Mistri, Paradi – Smt Ushaben Girishbhai Patel
Bureau Report