Vadodara/New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) The Congress on Sunday named senior Gujarat leader and former state Minister Bhikha Rabari as its candidate for the by-election to the Manjalpur Assembly constituency in Vadodara on July 30, setting up a political contest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s nominee, Satish Patel.

The candidature was approved by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Rabari, 79, is currently a Vice-President of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) and has been associated with the Congress for more than four decades.

According to party leaders, he previously served as Gujarat’s Minister of State for Industries, Mines and Energy during 1988-89 and was a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1985 to 1990.

A mechanical engineering graduate from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Rabari is also a former two-term municipal Councillor in Vadodara, a former Senate member of the university and has held several organisational positions within the Congress, including President of the Vadodara City District Congress Committee, AICC delegate and GPCC Vice-President.

He has served as Congress In-charge for several districts, including Dahod, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Anand and Kheda, and was recently given additional responsibility as convener of the OBC Department for eight districts in Central Gujarat.

Party leaders also highlight his tenure as Industries Minister, during which he introduced a policy enabling electricity connections for slum dwellers across Gujarat and facilitated the allotment of more than 20,000 residential plots measuring 25 square metres on spare government land for economically weaker sections.

He received the “Bharat Jyoti Award” from the India International Friendship Society for his work for weaker sections of society and social welfare initiatives, and was honoured with a Best MLA Award by The States Ex-MLA Council of India during Gujarat’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2010.

The BJP has fielded Satish Patel, a veteran associated with Gujarat’s cooperative sector, for the bypoll.

His selection came after internal lobbying within the party and marks the BJP’s attempt to retain a constituency that has remained one of its strongholds.

The Manjalpur bypoll was necessitated by the death of eight-time BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Yogesh Patel on June 2 after a prolonged illness.

Yogesh Patel represented the constituency since its creation following delimitation and had won eight consecutive Assembly elections over a 36-year legislative career.

The Election Commission has scheduled polling for July 30.

The election notification was issued on July 6, nominations can be filed until July 13, scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 14, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until July 16.

Counting of votes is scheduled for August 3.

The Model Code of Conduct is in force in the constituency.

–IANS

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