GANDHINAGAR: The BJP and Congress are yet to finalize the names of their nominees for the two vacant Rajya Sabha seats, elections for which will be held on March 1. Candidates of the parties have time until 3pm on March 18 to file their nominations for the two vacant seats. The delay in finalizing candidates is happening because both parties are apparently preoccupied with the local body elections.
Two Rajya Sabha seats of Gujarat fell vacant after the deaths of Ahmed Patel of the Congress and Abhay Bharadwaj of the BJP.
C R Paatil, state BJP president admitted discussions for finalizing the two candidates have not begun yet. “We are yet to discuss the selection of candidates for the Rajya Sabha seats. We will finalize the names shortly and communicate our choice to the high command in time. We are confident of winning both seats comfortably,’’ he said.
Leader of opposition in the assembly, Paresh Dhanani, said, “We are meeting today (Monday) for a discussion on the Rajya Sabha candidates. We could not discuss it earlier due to the local body elections. Despite ECI’s organizing two separate elections on same day, which may help BJP win both seats, we will democratically contest the elections.”