S Jaishankar files nominations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections

After filing his nomination Jaishankar said, “I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leadership of BJP, the MLAs and the people of Gujarat.” He added that with their blessings he will get another chance to represent Gujarat. He said, “Four years ago, I had first become a Parliamentarian from Gujarat. You would have all seen the change that has happened in the last four years under the leadership of PM Modi, especially with regard to foreign affairs. I am happy I was a part of this change. I hope that I will be able to contribute to the progress that will happen in future.”

BJP candidate Jaishankar says that he has learnt a lot in the last four years being an MP from Gujarat and regarded it as a “model state.” When asked about the highlights of foreign policy with regard to immediate neighbours, the BJP candidate said, “Overall there has been good progress if you look at Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. Our trade and connectivity have increased, relations have improved and security had been tightened.” “There is one neighbour from which we were facing a challenge of terrorism; we are countering it strongly and I feel the Modi government will be able to keep the country safe at all times,” he added further.

This is the second time, Jaishankar is filing his nomination as a BJP candidate from Gujarat. In May 2019, after the bureaucrat formally joined the BJP and was inducted into the cabinet, Jaishankar was fielded as a Rajya Sabha candidate for the first time the very next month.

Jaishankar is the first BJP candidate to file his nomination but, BJP is yet to declare the names of the remaining two candidates. The tenure of BJP Rajya Sabha MPs including Jaishankar, Jugalji Thakor and Dinesh Anavadiya is set to end on August 18.

The Election Commission of India earlier announced the elections for ten Rajya Sabha seats including those from Gujarat, West Bengal and Goa. The polls will be held this month on July 24.