The BJP leadership released the names of candidates for 70 out of the state’s 182 constituencies on Friday, two days after its central election committee met to finalise the list. The two-phase Gujarat election will take place on 9 and 14 December, and votes will be counted on 18 December. During the 2012 assembly election, Rupani had overseen the campaign in Saurashtra for then chief minister Narendra Modi although he did not contest the election himself. Former Congress member of the legislative assembly (MLA), CK Raulji, will fight on a BJP ticket in the Godhra constituency. Among the new faces in the list of candidates list is businessman Dhanjibhai Patel, chairman of Surendranagar based Makson Group.

Source: Mint November 17, 2017 16:52 UTC