Amit Shah, Smriti Irani to contest Rajya Sabha elections from Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR: BJP national president Amit Shah and textile and I&B minister Smriti Irani will contest the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat. Shah is currently an MLA from Ahmedabad’s Naranpura, in the outgoing House and this will be his first stint as a parliamentarian.

With Shah and Irani entering the fray, the Rajya Sabha election for the three seats in Gujarat has become more interesting.

“As of now, only two candidates have been declared from Gujarat by the party,” said Bharat Pandya, Gujarat BJP spokesperson Including Congress senior leader Ahmed Patel, there are only three candidates for three seats falling vacant in Gujarat so far.

However a defector Congress MLA could file a nomination as an independent to scuttle the possibility of Ahmed Patel. With Shah’s nomination, speculation is gaining ground that he may be inducted in the Union Cabinet. That would, however, necessitate the election of a new president for the ruling part.