New Delhi/ Chandigarh: The Congress on Sunday released its first candidates’ list ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections 2017, comprising 77 names. The list, which comes days after the BJP announced its candidates for the polls, was reportedly delayed due to disputes over seat-sharing with the party’s new alliance partners. The state goes to polls in two phases on December 9 and 14, and counting of votes will be conducted on December 18.
The Congress list includes the names of three members from the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and three Patidar corporators. Among the 77 names announced, the party has repeated all 14 of its MLAs again. There are three Muslims and two women names on the list.
Patidars Fume After Congress releases first list of Candidates for Gujarat Polls:
After Congress released list of 77 candidates was released, PAAS members expressed anger and started protesting in many parts of the state, claiming they were not given proper representation.
Two PAAS members were given tickets in the released list, while the Hardik Patel-led organisation had demanded 20 seats. Around 20 other Patel candidates, who are not members of the PAAS, also find mention in the list.
In Surat, PAAS members ghearoed the city unit office late in the night and indulged in sloganeering against the Congress.
“Our community members have not been given proper representation in the list that has been declared. We will not allow any Congress office to function in the state,” Surat city PAAS convenor Dharmik Malaviya told reporters.
In Ahmedabad, PAAS convenor Dinesh Bhambania, with his supporters reached the house of state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki to represent their case.
“We will organise protest in front of every office of the Congress across the state. Bharatsinh Solanki should talk to us,” he said. However, Solanki was not present at his Ahmedabad residence.