Former CM Vijay Rupani opts out of Gujarat poll race

Ahmedabad, Nov 09: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday announced that he will not contest the upcoming elections in the state.

"I worked as CM for 5 years with everyone's cooperation. In these polls, responsibility should be given to new workers. I won't contest the poll, I sent letter to seniors and conveyed it to Delhi. We will work to make chosen candidate win," Rupani was quoted saying by ANI.

Former Deputy CM of Gujarat Nitin Patel, senior BJP MLA Bhupendrasinh Chudasamaalso also declared they will not contest upcoming Assembly elections.

"I will not fight Assembly elections and have expressed it to senior leader of party. I have decided other workers should get opportunity. I have fought the elections 9 times till now. I express my gratitude to the party," said Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

With an eye on fresh record, the BJP is looking to bring in younger faces and will drop many senior leaders from the list of candidates.

Those above 75 years and several senior leaders are likely to be dropped from contesting this election.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the BJP central election committee was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to finalise the party's candidates for the Gujarat assembly polls. Hardik Patel and Alpesh Thakor who left the Congress to join BJP likely to get party tickets.

Patel may be fielded from Viramgam in Ahmedabad. Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja's wife Rivaba Jadeja also among the probable candidates, the sources said.

The BJP is likely to field Kantilal Amrutya, a former MLA from Morbi, who reportedly jumped into the river to save people after the collapse of a bridge, which killed more than 130 people.

The BJP is eyeing a seventh term in the state. Gujarat will go to polls in two phases on December 1 and 5.