The Congress party has officially declared its candidate for the upcoming by-election in the Manjalpur assembly constituency of Gujarat. According to an official press release issued by the party, Bhikhabhai Rabari has been named as the official nominee. The announcement followed a letter from Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, confirming that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the candidacy of Bhikhabhai Rabari for the by-election in the 145-Manjalpur assembly seat.
The Political Landscape
With the announcement of Bhikhabhai Rabari, the political landscape in the Manjalpur constituency has become significantly more active. Rabari is set to face the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, Satish Govindbhai Patel, in the upcoming poll. The BJP had announced Satish Govindbhai Patel as its candidate on Friday. Patel possesses substantial political experience, having been elected as a councillor for the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) multiple times. Furthermore, he has served as the chairman of the influential standing committee of the municipal body and has previously held the position of BJP Vadodara district president.
Election Schedule and Context
As per the schedule released by the Election Commission on July 2, the by-election for the Manjalpur assembly seat is set to take place on July 30, with the counting of votes scheduled for August 3. In accordance with the commission's timeline, the final date for the submission of nomination papers is July 13. The by-election was necessitated by the passing of the sitting MLA, Yogesh Patel. The 79-year-old eight-time legislator passed away in Vadodara on June 2 following a prolonged illness.
BJP Candidate's Stance
Following the announcement of his nomination, Satish Patel expressed his gratitude to the national and Gujarat state leadership of the BJP for placing their faith in him. Speaking to reporters after his candidacy was formalized, he stated that his nomination was a result of his 32 years of dedicated service to the party. He expressed his enthusiasm regarding the upcoming challenge. Patel marked his entry into the campaign by meeting with party workers, seeking blessings at a Swaminarayan temple, and offering prayers at a temple constructed by the late Yogesh Kaka Patel.
