Four MLAs and a former MP are among the six candidates announced by the Congress party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Thursday. With this, the Congress has so far declared candidates for twelve out of 26 seats in the state, while BJP has named nominees for 19 seats.
The names were announced after the meeting of Congress's Central Election Committee in New Delhi. The party announced that senior MLA Punja Vansh would be its candidate from Junagadh Lok Sabha seat. The six-term legislator belongs to the Koli community and is seen as a good candidate. The BJP is yet to announce its candidate from the seat.
As expected, Jitu Chaudhary, MLA from Kaprada (ST) seat, was named as the Congress candidate from Valsad seat. The four-term MLA would take on BJP nominee and sitting MP KC Patel from Valsad, which is considered a bellwether seat. The Congress fielded Lalit Vasoya, the MLA from Dhoraji seat, as its candidate from Porbandar. The seat would see a direct fight between Vasoya, a first-term MLA, and BJP candidate Ramesh Dhaduk, who would be contesting his first LS election.
"By fielding so many MLAs, the party is sending the message of how serious it is about winning seats in Gujarat. The sitting MLAs are strong in their areas, and we should be able to win some seats," said a party leader, requesting anonymity.
Lalit Kagathara, MLA from Tankara seat, was named as the candidate from Rajkot seat. The first-term MLA would take on sitting MP and former union minister Mohan Kundariya from the prestigious seat.
Former MP Jagdish Thakor was named as the candidate for the Patan Lok Sabha seat. Thakor had won from the Patan seat in 2009. The seat is presently held by Liladhar Vaghela of BJP.
The Congress also announced the candidature of VK Khant from Panchmahal seat. Khant, an influential OBC leader, is the father of Morva Hadaf MLA Bhupendra Khant. He would take on MLA and BJP candidate Ratansinh Rathod.
