Gujarat: BJP begins meeting to finalise candidates for local polls

Gandhinagar, April 7 Gujarat BJP’s state election committee (Parliamentary Board) on Tuesday held a nearly six-hour-long meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence in Gandhinagar to deliberate on candidate selection for the upcoming local self-government elections.

The meeting was held in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi was also present, along with other members of the election committee.

The meeting marked the beginning of a three-day exercise, with further meetings scheduled on April 8 and April 9, during which the party is expected to finalise candidates for municipal corporations, district panchayats, taluka panchayats, municipalities and by-elections.

Among those present were state organisation general secretary Ratnakarji, former deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, former minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, education minister Pradyuman Vaja, former Union minister Darshana Jardosh, former minister Babu Bokhiriya, MP Rajesh Chudasama, Natuji Thakor, Ganpatsinh Vasava, Anju Vekaria, Union minister C.R. Patil, MP Parshottam Rupala, R.C. Faldu, Jitu Vaghani, Jayashri Patel and Varsha Doshi.

According to party sources, “in the local self-government elections, individuals with three terms and those above 60 years of age will not be given tickets.”

It was further stated that “not only office-bearers, but even members of their families will not be given tickets.”

Discussions during the meeting focused on identifying and finalising prospective candidates across various local bodies, as preparations intensify ahead of the polls.

"The first list of candidates is expected to be released by April 10," a party source said.

As per the State Election Commission’s schedule, voting for the local body elections will be held on April 26, while counting of votes will take place on April 28.

The nomination process will begin on April 11, and April 15 has been set as the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

The elections will be conducted across 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats in the state, covering around 10,005 seats, including 1,044 in municipal corporations and more than 5,000 in taluka panchayats.

The model code of conduct, which came into force on April 1, remains in place as political parties continue to finalise their candidates.

--IANS

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