Gandhinagar, July 13 (IANS) A total of 15 nomination papers were filed by seven candidates on Monday for the by-election to Gujarat’s Manjalpur Assembly constituency, with the contest set to move to the scrutiny stage on Tuesday.

According to the Returning Officer, July 13 was the last date for filing nominations under the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India.

The nomination papers will be scrutinised on July 14, while candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until July 16.

Polling is scheduled for July 30, and the counting of votes will take place on August 3.

The seven candidates who filed nominations are Satyendra (Satish) Patel of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Paresh Brahmbhatt of the BJP, Bhikha Rabari of the Congress, Dharmesh Patel of the Congress, Ratnasagar Rajrajeshwar Dhulabhai of the BJP, Dinesh Vyas of the Right to Recall Party and independent candidate Rathod Paresh Vinodkumar.

Although seven candidates entered the fray, they collectively submitted 15 nomination papers, as candidates may file more than one set before the deadline.

The Returning Officer also said that, in accordance with the Election Commission’s directions, every candidate is required to submit an affidavit in Form 26 along with the nomination papers, disclosing details of assets, liabilities, educational qualifications, and any criminal cases, if applicable.

The Manjalpur Assembly seat fell vacant following the death of veteran BJP MLA Yogesh Patel on June 2.

Patel first represented the Raopura constituency and later Manjalpur, winning eight consecutive Assembly elections and remaining one of Vadodara’s longest-serving legislators.

The BJP has fielded Satish Patel as its official candidate, while the Congress has nominated former state minister and Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Bhikha Rabari.

Both candidates filed their nomination papers earlier in the presence of senior leaders from their respective parties after holding separate public programmes in Vadodara.

Following the scrutiny of nominations on July 14 and the deadline for withdrawals on July 16, the final list of candidates will be known before campaigning gathers pace for the July 30 polling.

The by-election is being closely watched as the first Assembly electoral contest in Gujarat since the vacancy arose and is expected to test the organisational strength of both the BJP and the Congress in Vadodara.

–IANS

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