The deadline for filing the nomination paper for Rajya Sabha is 28 July. For the third seat, Congress has named Patel while BJP is looking to back a candidate who is pitted against Congress. While Rajput could not be contacted on his phone, a person close to Vaghela said that Rajput’s name was more or less confirmed for the Rajya Sabha candidate. The ruling BJP in Gujarat is looking to win 150+ out of 182 assembly seats in the upcoming state elections by poaching disgruntled Congress MLAs. BJP’s slogan for Gujarat elections ‘UP mein 300+, Gujarat mein 150+’ is also inspired from BJP’s massive victory in recent state elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Source: Mint July 27, 2017 13:52 UTC