BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha election from the Gandhinagar parliamentary constituency. Shah was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
The Congress has nominated Sonal Patel from the Gandhinagar seat against Shah, who is eyeing a second consecutive term.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shah registered a massive victory by defeating CJ Chavda with a margin of 5.55 lakh votes. Chavda had contested the 2019 polls on a Congress ticket but later joined the BJP.
After filing his nomination, Shah expressed his pride in contesting from Gandhinagar, saying that the constituency has been represented by BJP stalwarts in the past.
“It is a matter of pride for me that this seat was represented by LK Advani, Atal ji, and the seat where Narendra Modi himself is a voter. I have been an MLA, and MP from this seat for 30 years. The people of this region have given me immense love,” Shah said.
“I was a small-time booth worker, and I reached Parliament from this constituency. Development projects worth Rs 22,000 crore have been completed in the last five years in Gandhinagar.”
Voting for the first phase of Lok Sabha 2024 elections began on Friday in 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states and Union territories.
Voters will exercise their franchise until 6:00 pm. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), a total of 1.87 lakh polling stations have been set up, while 18 lakh personnel have been deployed across the 102 constituencies going to the polls.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking his third consecutive term, while the opposition INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposing parties formed to take on the BJP in the general elections, is eyeing to oust him from power.
The second phase will be held on April 26, with the remaining phases scheduled on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. Results will be declared on June 4.
(With ANI input)
