Summary:
Candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition Congress will file their nomination papers for upcoming bye-elections for two seats of Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. BJP has selected foreign minister S Jaishankar and Jugal Thakor as its nominees, while Congress has shortlisted five candidates and Congress high command will decide on final two candidates, who will contest the elections. Those shortlisted by Congress include former minister Karsandas Soneri, former chairperson of Public Accounts Committee – Chandrika Chudasama, party veteran Balu Patel, party spokesman Manish Doshi and Gaurav Pandya. Irani defeated Congress president Rahul Gandhi, from a seat that was considered to be a stronghold of Gandhi family. Congress has demanded that voting for both seats should be held simultaneously, while BJP has demanded that voting for both the seat be held separately..