Gujarat BJP readies shortlist

Gujarat BJP on Tuesday completed the process of reviewing 26 Lok Sabha seats and shortlisting names of potential candidates. The observers submitted the list of candidates keen on contesting the polls on the concluding day of the three-day meeting of the party at CM's bungalow in Gandhinagar. The reviewers discussed Rajkot, Kutch, Porbandar and Junagadh seats on Tuesday.

Now, the BJP has prepared panels for 26 seats which will be sent to the high command for the final decision.

After the meeting, Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said: "With the review of the four seats, the process of assessing Lok Sabha seats has been completed by the parliamentary board in Gujarat. These names will now be presented in the central parliamentary board meeting in the coming days after which the names will be finalised. When the country has made up its mind to make Narendra Modi the prime minister once again, BJP workers are confident of winning all the 26 seats in the state."

Attacking the Congress, Vaghani said: "Congress is nowhere to be seen on ground in Gujarat. When Congress workers have no faith in their leadership, how can people of the state believe the Congress? Congress party is a directionless and leaderless party." During the discussion on Rajkot seat, the names of current MP Mohan Kundaria, former mayor of Rajkot Dhansukh Bhanderi, former Jasdan MLA Bharat Boghra were taken into consideration. Patidar leader of Khodaldham fame, Paresh Gajera's name was also discussed. On the Porbandar seat, Vitthal Radadiya's son Lalit Radadiya, Mansukh Khachariya and Jasumati Korat were some of the names discussed while on Kutch seat, the observers discussed prospects of MP Vinod Chavda and Naresh Maheshwari.

Shambhu Tundiya's name also cropped up during the discussion as his Rajya Sabha term is coming to an end. On Junagadh seat, current MP Rajesh Chudasama looked stronger compared to other candidates, said sources. According to sources, there are three to four names per seat in the list sent to the high command. There are very few seats where only one or two names are finalised. C R Patil (Navsari), Jashwantsinh Bhabhor (Dahol), Devusinh Chauhan (Kheda) are likely to be repeated. In the three days of parliamentary meeting, Gujarat in-charge Om Mathur, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, General Secretary (Organisation) Bhikhu Dalsaniya, ministers Parshottam Rupala, Bhupendra Chudasama and Bharatsinh Parmar remained present.

Meeting at CM’s house: BJP gets CEO’s clean chit
Gujarat’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Tuesday said the ruling BJP has not violated the model code of conduct by holding a meeting of its State Parliamentary Board at Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s official residence.

CEO S Murali Krishna had Monday ordered an inquiry into the matter after receiving a complaint in this regard from the Congress. The inquiry into the matter did not suggest any violation of the model code of conduct, which is in force for the next month’s Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat, he said. "We have conducted an inquiry into the matter and found no violation of the model code of conduct," Krishna said.

In its complaint, the main opposition party had alleged the CM’s official residence in Gandhinagar is a government property and no political activity is allowed from a government premises when the poll code is in force.

On learning about the CEO’s clean chit to the ruling party, the state Congress announced it will approach the Election Commission (EC) over the issue. “This is a clear case of misuse of state machinery and property. Though BJP was at fault, the local election authorities chose not to take any action. We have decided to make a representation to the EC about this issue in coming days,” said Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi.

Polling for all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on April 23. The model code of conduct came into force when the poll schedule was announced on March 10.

State BJP president Jitu Vaghani had Monday defended the move of organising the meeting at the CM’s official residence, claiming the gathering does not violate any rules.

“We have to also taken care of the CM’s security. Arranging such meetings at CM’s residence is an old tradition. Party leaders are only doing brainstorming here. We have not arranged any political rally or engaged in any poll campaigning here,” Vaghani had said.