NEW DELHI: In a major political development, the BJP on Wednesday decided to field party chief Amit Shah and Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani for the Rajya Sabha elections. This would be the first time Shah contests an election to become a Member of Parliament.
Confirming the development after the BJP’s Parliamentary Party meeting, Union Minister JP Nadda said,
“Both leaders will contest from Gujarat, where three seats will fall vacant in September. Elections are going to be held on August 8.”
Irani was recently made the Information and Broadcasting Minister after the post fell vacant following the resignation of Venkaiah Naidu, who was made the NDA’s vice presidential candidate. Irani was appointed as Human Resources Development Minister after the BJP took over at the Centre and was made the Union Textile Minister in 2016.
Nadda also announced the candidature of Sampatia Uike, a woman tribal leader from Mahakoshal region, from Madhya Pradesh in a by-election to the Rajya Sabha from the State.
The terms of nine Rajya Sabha members from Gujarat and West Bengal would end on August 18.