Surat West assembly by-election: City unit president Purnesh Modi declared BJP candidate

Surat, 14 November 2013

The BJP national president Shri Rajnath Singh today approved the recommendations of Gujarat’s state election committee regarding the by-election to the 167-Surat West legislative assembly of Gujarat, and announced Shri Purnesh Ishwarlal Modi as candidate.

Shri Purnesh Modi is Surat BJP president since 2010. He was municipal Councillor between 2000-2005. He is B.Com, LLB and associated with legal profession.

Surat West is considered one of the safest seats for BJP in Gujarat, and even Congress loyalists in their informal talks accept the fact that BJP ticket on this seat means straight entry to the Gujarat assembly. Sudden death of Surat west seat MLA has caused this by-poll.

It should be noted that during a meeting of senior party leaders in Gandhinagar on Wednesday at 1.30 pm, senior minister Anandiben Patel along with Nanu Vanani had proposed Hemali Boghawala’s name as candidate. However other MLAs, city BJP office bearers, MPs and other leaders favored Purnesh Modi’s name in this meeting which continued for over three hours. Later at 5.00 pm party’s parliamentary board meeting was held in presence of Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, state party president Shri RC Faldu, Bharatsinh Parmar, Bhikhubhai Dalsania. Party observers submitted all reports before the parliamentary board. Final decision was left on Modi and Faldu.

Party observers had earlier visited Surat where they heard supporters of 35 ticket seekers. Of them around a dozen were considered capable candidates. But finally only three names Purnesh Modi, Hemali Boghawala and Mukesh Dalal were selected.

Polling for Surat West seat will take place on 4 December.