Four in fray for Congress 'primaries' for Bhavnagar LS seat

Four Congress contenders are in the fray for the 'primaries' of Bhavnagar Lok Sabha constituency, a system introduced at the behest of party Vice President Rahul Gandhi to select the candidate for the 2014 polls.
Bhavnagar is one of the 15 seats shortlisted by Congress where system of selecting probable candidates for upcoming Lok Sabha election through internal voting, called as primaries, has been introduced by the party.
Yesterday was the last day for the registration of nominations for the primary voting process for Bhavnagar seat and the voting will take place on March 9.
The contenders for the seat include two-time former MLA Natu Dabhi's son Jivan Dabhi, Bhavnagar Zilla Panchayat member Digvijaysinh Gohil, Ghogha taluka panchayat president Jitu Vaghela and sitting MLA from Palitana Pravin Rathod.

One of these leaders will be selected as the candidate through an internal voting process and will contest on the Congress ticket from Bhavnagar constituency in Lok Sabha elections, after party gives its final approval.
"Our primary candidate for the Lok Sabha seat will be selected by 858 Congress workers and leaders of Bhavnagar, who have already registered with us as voters. Each voter will cast two votes, one for first choice and another for second choice. The voting will take place on March 9," said Dr D B Raninga, president of Bhavnagar City District Congress Committee.
Bhavnagar Lok Sabha seat has been held by BJP's Rajendrasinh Rana for at least last 15 years.

Apart from Bhavnagar, the party will also hold primaries for the Vadodara seat.