In a strategic move, the BJP has unveiled their complete list of candidates for all 26 parliamentary seats in Gujarat. The party has strategically refrained from major shake-ups in its selection process. With the final six candidates declared yesterday, the political landscape has now been clarified. BJP has made room for 14 fresh faces, while repeating 12 sitting MPs, in a move that has raised eyebrows. Moreover, in a contrasting decision to the last election’s six, this time only four women have been granted the opportunity to contest.
The party has notably axed the tickets of two union ministers of state. Both Darshanaben Jardosh from Surat and Dr. Mahendra Munjpara from Surendranagar did not make the cut this time around. Their spots have been taken by fresh faces - Mukesh Dalal, General Secretary of Surat BJP, and Chandubhai Sehora, former head of district panchayat who joined BJP from Congress in 2017, respectively.
Education Sector Veteran Haribhai Patel to Contest from Mehsana
Mehsana's current MP, Shardaben Patel, had already declined to contest the elections. In her stead, education sector veteran Haribhai Patel has been chosen. Hailing from the Kadva Patidar community, the BJP has traditionally favored a candidate from this community for the Patidar voter-heavy Mehsana seat. Haribhai Patel, a ground-level BJP activist and former college principal, has thus been granted the ticket this time.
Sobhanaben Baraiya Steps into the Ring for Sabarkantha Seat
For the Sabarkantha seat, Sobhanaben Baraiya, wife of former Congress MLA-turned-BJP member Mahendrasinh Baraiya, has been handed the ticket. Replacing BJP's previous candidate Bhikha Thakor, she comes into the fray amidst a caste-related controversy that caused Thakor to relinquish his ticket just 24 hours prior. Sobhanaben, also affiliated with the education sector, is set to make her electoral debut.
Dr. Hemang Joshi Takes Over Vadodara's Candidacy Amidst Internal Conflict
Considered one of BJP's safest seats, Vadodara saw incumbent MP Ranjanben Bhatt return her ticket following internal disputes. The party has subsequently nominated Dr. Hemang Joshi, the Vice-Chairman of Nagar Nigam's Education Committee. Hailing from the Brahmin community, Joshi serves as an up-and-coming youth leader. A physiotherapist by profession, he has been instrumental in strengthening primary schools in rural areas and is now poised to be the youngest candidate from Vadodara to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Rajesh Chudasama Secures Ticket for Third Term from Junagadh
Incumbent MP Rajesh Chudasama has been repeated for a third term from Junagadh despite recent controversies linking him to a local doctor's suicide case. Speculation abounded that this scandal might lead to his ticket being cut, but absenteeism of a strong alternative reportedly led the party to repeat his candidacy.
The presence of former Congress members is notably increasing within the BJP, evident from the recent candidate announcement where two of the six names were originally associated with the Congress. Reflecting a calculated approach, the BJP seems intent on maintaining its strong foothold without making drastic changes, aiming to carry forward its overwhelming victory in all 26 seats from 2014 and 2019.
