The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unveiled its initial candidate list for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat on Saturday, revealing names for 15 out of 26 seats in the state. Notably, the list includes Union ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala, while dropping five sitting MPs. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, long associated with the BJP, is set to make his electoral debut in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Mandaviya, who has served two terms in the Rajya Sabha, will contest from Porbandar constituency in Gujarat, as announced by the BJP's initial candidate list released on Saturday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, a constituency he secured with a significant margin in the 2019 polls. Gujarat BJP chief CR Paatil has also been maintained as the candidate for Navsari.
Check the complete list here:
| Candidate | Seat | |
| 1. | Amit Shah | Gandhinagar |
| 2. | Parshottam Rupala | Rajkot |
| 3. | Mansukhbhai Mandaviya | Porbandar |
| 4. | Vinodbhai Lakhmashi Chavda | Kachchh |
| 5. | Dr Rekhaben Hiteshbhai Chaudhary | Banaskantha |
| 6. | Bharatsinhji Dabhi | Patan |
| 7. | Dineshbhai Kodarbhai Makwana | Ahmedabad West |
| 8. | Poonamben Maadam | Jamnagar |
| 9. | Miteshbhai Rameshbhai Patel | Anand |
| 10. | Devusinh Chauhan | Kheda |
| 11. | Rajpalsinh Mahendrasinh Jadhav | Panchmahal |
| 12. | Jasvantsinh Bhabhor | Dahod |
| 13. | Mansukhbhai Vasava | Bharuch |
| 14. | Prabhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava | Bardoli |
| 15. | C R Paatil | Navsari |
Among those denied tickets are former Union Minister of State Mohan Kundariya from Rajkot, Ramesh Dhaduk from Porbandar, Kirit Solanki from Ahmedabad East, Parbat Patel from Banaskantha, and Ratansinh Rathod from Panchmahal.
Union Agriculture Minister Parshottam Rupala, from Amreli district, will contest from Rajkot in place of Kundariya, while Mandaviya, hailing from Bhavnagar district, will contest from Porbandar instead of Dhaduk.
The BJP has nominated six-time MP and senior tribal leader Mansukh Vasava from Bharuch. This constituency is one of the two seats allotted by the opposition Congress to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under their INDIA bloc agreement. AAP has named its Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava as its candidate from Bharuch.
Union Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan will contest from Kheda, a seat he secured in 2014 and 2019.
In the first list, two women candidates have been named: Jamnagar MP Poonam Madam and Rekhaben Chaudhary, who will contest from Banaskantha in place of Parbat Patel.
Dinesh Makwana will replace Kirit Solanki in the Ahmedabad West (Scheduled Caste) seat, while in Panchmahal, sitting MP Ratansinh Rathod has been replaced by Rajpalsinh Jadav.
The BJP has maintained Vinod Chavda for the Kutch (SC) seat, Bharatsinh Dabhi for Patan, Mitesh Patel for Anand, and Jaswantsinh Bhabhor for Dahod.
In both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP swept all 26 seats in Gujarat.
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Mansukh Mandaviya: The "Green MP"
Mandaviya, often referred to as the "Green MP" for his advocacy of cycling to Parliament, has steadily climbed the ranks within the BJP. Currently, he holds significant portfolios, including Health and Chemicals and Fertilisers. Taking charge of the health ministry during the critical phase of the COVID-19 crisis in 2021, Mandaviya replaced Harsh Vardhan. He simultaneously assumed responsibility for Chemicals and Fertilisers, succeeding D V Sadananda Gowda. Born into a farming family in Gujarat, Mandaviya's political journey began with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in his youth, as per news agency PTI.
With a background in veterinary medicine and political science, Mandaviya's administrative career blossomed under the mentorship of Narendra Modi. He served in various capacities within the BJP, eventually becoming instrumental in the party's membership drive in Gujarat, PTI's report stated.
Mandaviya's entry into the central government came in 2016, initially as Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways, Shipping, and Chemicals and Fertilisers. Over the years, he has spearheaded crucial initiatives, notably overseeing the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign and launching the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, the report mentioned.
As Health Minister, Mandaviya played a pivotal role in expanding access to affordable healthcare through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his ministry's efforts were crucial in bolstering oxygen supply and medical resources. Additionally, Mandaviya's leadership facilitated the establishment of over 10,600 Jan Aushadhi stores, providing essential medicines at subsidised rates.