Gujarat: BJP, Congress to file nominations for Rajya Sabha polls today

Candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition Congress will file their nomination papers for upcoming bye-elections for two seats of Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. BJP has selected foreign minister S Jaishankar and Jugal Thakor as its nominees, while Congress has shortlisted five candidates and Congress high command will decide on final two candidates, who will contest the elections.

Those shortlisted by Congress include former minister Karsandas Soneri, former chairperson of Public Accounts Committee – Chandrika Chudasama, party veteran Balu Patel, party spokesman Manish Doshi and Gaurav Pandya. A meeting of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee was held on Monday and after intense deliberations, these name were shortlisted and forwarded to party high command, which will finalise two candidates. June 25 is the last date for filing of the nominations. Elections will be held on July 5.

The seats have fallen vacant after party president Amit Shah and union minister Smriti Irani got elected from Gandhinagar and Amethi Lok Sabha constituencies respectively. Irani defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi, from a seat that was considered to be a stronghold of Gandhi family. Congress has demanded that voting for both seats should be held simultaneously, while BJP has demanded that voting for both the seat be held separately.