Allies power on showcase as BJP chief Amit Shah files nomination from Gandhinagar today

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday will file his nomination from the Gandhinagar constituency in Gujarat. In a show of strength, the party has planned a mega road show of the BJP chief before his file his nomination papers. Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and leaders of BJP’s allies such as Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal and LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan will accompany Shah during his filing of nomination.

The presence of top NDA brass is seen as an acknowledgment of Shah being the second most powerful leader of the party. Shah replaced BJP veteran LK Advani, who had been representing Gandhinagar constituency since 1998.

Giving details about the BJP chief's schedule, Vaghani said that the four-km road-show would start from Sardar Patel Statue in the Naranpura area of Ahmedabad and will culminate at Patidar Chowk in the Ghatlodia area.

"Shah would also address people before starting his road-show in the presence of our two union ministers and NDA leaders Badal and Thackeray," Vaghani said.

Shah, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat, has been named as BJP's candidate from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. The last date for filing nominations is April 4. Polling for all the 26 seats of Gujarat will be held in a single phase on April 23.

(With inputs from PTI)