AAP names two more candidates from Gujarat for poll fray

AHMEDABAD: Claiming an end to caste and community based vote-bank politics, Aam Aadmi Party's Gujarat unit declared the names of two more candidates today for Lok Sabha elections from Sabarkantha and Banaskantha seats.

"In the history of Gujarat politics, AAP has fielded a Dalit candidate - Natavar Solanki - from Sabarkantha which has Brahmin majority population. From Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat, we have decided to field a Brahmin candidate Sanjay Raval," an AAP press release.

"At a time when no political party dares to give tickets without considering the caste factor, AAP has taken a revolutionary step by fielding two candidates who do not belong to castes having a major vote bank," it said. "Solanki is a former sarpanch of Isarwada village of Idar taluka of Sabarkantha district, who was awarded the Nirmal Gram Award in 2010-11 by then President Pratibha Patil," the release said.

Solanki, who joined AAP four months ago had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 assembly election from Idar. "Raval has been associated with books and garments business and had introduced a housing scheme in Palanpur town of Banskantha district," the release said. Raval had also fought elections as an Independent from the Palanpur assembly constituency in 2007 but had lost. He joined AAP a month ago after being earlier associated with Anna Hazare's 'India Against Corruption' movement.