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Its finally official.Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, will be running from the constituency of Vadodara in Gujarat. At the same time party veteran Advani whose candidature from the state was under speculation will be contesting from Gandhinagar and not Bhopal as earlier rumours suggested.
Modi will now contest the national election from here as well as from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, which was allotted to him over the weekend.
BJP had deputed Sushma Swaraj to convey the decision to Advani. The decision was taken at an all-day meeting on Wednesday in Delhi that brought together the BJP's most senior leaders including Modi.
Advani had recused himself from the meeting, stating that it was inappropriate for him to be present as his candidature was being discussed.
For weeks, there had been reports that Modi would contest a second seat from his home state, where he is serving his fourth consecutive term as Chief Minister. He has never contested a national election and is a member of the Gujarat legislature.
The BJP deliberated between the constituencies of Ahmedabad East and Vadodara for Mr Modi. The former is currently represented in Parliament by Haren Pathak, known for his proximity to veteran leader LK Advani.
BJP sources said there were concerns that displacing Pathak could be seen as an undermining of Advani, who fronted an unsuccessful campaign last year against the selection of Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate.
BJP sources said there were concerns that displacing Pathak could be seen as an undermining of Advani, who fronted an unsuccessful campaign last year against the selection of Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate.
Modi has been forecast by an array of opinion polls as the frontrunner for the country's top job.
Similarly, the BJP's decision to have Modi run for the Lok Sabha from Varanasi is designed to enthuse voters in India's largest state to support the party.
