BJP announces four more Lok Sabha candidates in Gujarat, one for by-elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released its thirteenth list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The list includes four names for Gujarat.

The party has fielded Bharatsinh Dabhi Thakur from Pata Lok Sabha constituency and Rajeshbhai Chudasma from Junagadh. Miteshbhai Patel and Geetaben Rathva are party candidates for Anand and Chhota Udaipur seats respectively.

Other than these, the BJP has also announced one candidate for the by-elections to the state legislative assembly. The party has fielded Jasabhai Barad from Talala.

BJP president Amit Shah will be contesting his maiden Lok Sabha elections in from Gandhinagar, currently represented by L K Advani. 

Shah's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls is seen as his effort to demonstrate that he was willing to lead from the front and also to energise the BJP cadres in Gujarat where the party had won all 26 seats in 2014 but has seen its rival growing in strength since.

Gujarat will go to polls in single phase on April 23. The counting of votes will be held on May 23. The last date of filing nominations is April 4.