BJP to stick with tried and tested in 2nd list

Under pressure from the brewing rebellion in their ranks following the announcement of the first list of candidates, both the BJP and the Congress are taking no chances with the final list, likely to be out in a couple of days.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to experiment in the second phase list too. Party sources say Modi will stick to old faces as it will include the strategically important central Gujarat and north Gujarat regions.

Modi is likely to fly to New Delhi on Friday to participate in a parliamentary board meeting, where the list would be finalised. It will be announced by Saturday or latest by Sunday. The BJP has introduced only 75 per cent new faces in the last civic bodies' polls in the first list of 87 seats.

"He has introduced only 12 new faces. The second list will repeat all the sitting MLAs," said a BJP leader.

The first phase list has covered the Saurashtra-Kutch region and parts South Gujarat. The remaining central Gujarat and north Gujarat regions will be covered in the second phase list. After the declaration of first phase list, four MLAs have quit the party because of the discontent over ticket distribution.

Three more MLAs quit the party on Wednesday including Sunil Ojha from Bhavnagar (South), Ramesh Mistry Bharuch and Karsan Patel representing Gandevi.

Only 60% 'Original Congmen' in list

The first list from Congress has around 40 per cent of candidates who are not 'original Congressmen'. Of the 87 candidates that the party has declared, around 30 have joined the party from outfits such as BJP, JD and RJD.

With the Gujarat Congress giving tickets to BJP rebels in Kutch, Surat and Amreli, there is a visible unrest in the party's units in these districts.

"There is a feeling of resentment among workers in these districts. The foot-soldiers will have to campaign for the very same people who were rivals in last elections," said a Congress leader.

Bharatiya Janashakti Party's first phase list out

Uma Bharti's Bharatiya Janashakti Party on Thursday announced the list of candidates for the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

The list covers 26 seats from across the state. Bharatiya Janashakti Party has decided to contest 26 candidates in the first phase from Bharuch, Jetpur, Una, Manavadar, Botad, Rajpipla, Jamnagar, Navasari, Valsad, Jalalpore, Mahuva (Bhavnagar) Porbandar, Jambusar, Ankleshwar, Surat (West), Olpad, Nijar, Anjar, Junagadh, Bhavnagar (North), Bhavnagar (South), Somnath, Choryasi, Bhuj and Ahwa.

The party is likely to pitch 60 to 70 candidates in both the phases. Earlier, it was said that Uma Bharati will pitch 30 candidates in the first phase.