Cong fields maverick Oza to take on Modi

Oza had resigned from the BJP over differences with Keshubhai Patel, then chief minister, and also raised the issue of rampant corruption in the party.

He had alleged that some police officers had connived with criminals in an RDX and arms smuggling case. When he was with the BJP, Oza had led several agitations over local issues in his constituency.

In one such agitation, against a school that had raised its fee, a police officer was bludgeoned to death.

The Congress has kept hanging till Monday, the last day for filing papers, its final list of candidates.

GPCC vice-president Hasmukh Patel said, ‘‘Let us wait and watch what happens till then.’’ Among the seats kept pending are Shahpur, Dariapur-Kazipur, and Ellisbridge, all in Ahmedabad city. Sunday’s list had the son of sitting member Urvashi Devi for Devgadh Baria.

She had figured in the first list but was axed when the second list was announced on Friday. She was camping here for two days to get her son, Tusharsinh, nominated in her place.