Cong slams BJP for fielding Shah instead of Advani from Gandhinagar

Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party for fielding Amit Shah instead of veteran LK Advani from Gandhinagar, Congress leader PL Punia said that the move showed that the saffron party is being run solely by Shah.

New Delhi: The Congress on Friday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for dropping party veteran LK Advani's name from its first list of Lok Sabha candidates.

Congress leader PL Punia said, "An outstanding Parliamentarian like LK Advani will be replaced by Amit Shah. Now, people are clear that BJP is only run by Amit Shah."

Notably, Advani who contested the Lok Sabha elections from Gandhinagar seat for the first time in 1991, retained the constituency in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. In the ensuing elections, BJP president Amit Shah will be contesting from the constituency.

Advani did not contest the elections only once. In the year 1996, he did not contest as his name was found mentioned in the Jain Hawala Dairy Case.

The BJP on March 21 declared 184 candidates including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and Textiles Minister Smriti Irani for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, beginning April 11 and concluding on May 19.

The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

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