The party has already announced four MLAs among its 13 candidates declared so far, and is expected to field four or five more MLAs from the remaining seats.
The Congress seems to be betting heavily on its MLAs to take the battle to the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party has already announced four MLAs among its 13 candidates declared so far, and is expected to field four or five more MLAs from the remaining seats.
Highly placed sources said that the party is likely to announce Rajendrasinh Thakor, a two-term MLA from Modasa seat, as its candidate from Sabarkantha Lok Sabha seat. He would be pitted against MP and BJP nominee Dipsinh Rathod. Chotila MP Rutvik Makwana or Limbdi MLA Somabhai Patel would be the Congress's candidate from Surendranagar seat.
"It is a close call between the two, but it is final that one of them will be the candidate," said a source. Earlier, the BJP dropped sitting MP Devji Fatepara, and fielded Mahendra Munjpara as its candidate from Surendranagar. The Congress had drawn a blank in Gujarat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, but it hopes to win a good number of seats this time. Party leaders say they can win as many as 8-10 seats, and this is why a large number of MLAs are among the candidates.
With Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel's poll prospects caught in a legal web, Vikram Madam, the MLA from Khambhalia, is most likely to be the Congress's candidate from Jamnagar seat. Madam had won from Jamnagar in 2004 and 2009, but had lost to his niece Poonam Madam in 2014. The BJP has repeated her as its candidate for the April 23 elections. The candidature of Gandhinagar North MLA CJ Chavda from Gandhinagar seat is also almost certain. Among others, leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani is the frontrunner for Amreli ticket, but Dhari MLA Jaysukh Kakadiya is also said to be in the race.
Another list to be out on April 1
The Congress is likely to name candidates for 13 Lok Sabha seats, as well as the five assembly by-elections on April 1. A senior leader said the names would be announced after they are approved by the party’s Central Election Committee.
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