RS candidates declared elected uncontested

GANDHINAGAR, July 19: The three Rajya Sabha candidates, Ahmed Patel of the Congress and Lalitbhai Mehta and Savitaben Sharda of the BJP w...

GANDHINAGAR, July 19: The three Rajya Sabha candidates, Ahmed Patel of the Congress and Lalitbhai Mehta and Savitaben Sharda of the BJP were declared elected uncontested on Monday, the last day for withdrawing nomination papers for the July 26 Rajya Sabha polls in the State.

The Returning Officer declared the three candidates as elected uncontested as no other candidates had filed nomination papers for the vacant RS seats. The RS election for the three seats were necessitated following the completion of term of Urmilaben Patel, Ahmed Patel and Chimnabhai Shukla. Ahmed Patel is at present AICC Treasurer.

Though the Congress high command had already finalised the name of Ahmed Patel as the party nominee for the RS election, the task was more difficult for the BJP. Several names were doing the rounds within the BJP for the coveted posts. Among these, were Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (GACL) chairman C R Patil was considered a hot favourite. However, the group loyal to Union Minister Kashiram Rana had scuttled Patil’s name, paving the way for Savitaben.

Lalit Mehta, a staunch RSS activist and former state export corporation chairman, has held various important positions in the BJP since 1984, and has been involved in strengthening the party organisation for the past seven years. Savitaben is an active member of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, besides being former Surat mayor.

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