Gujarat: Shaktisinh Gohil may clinch Rajya Sabha berth

AHMEDABAD: In a significant announcement, the Gujarat Congress made it clear on Saturday that national spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil will be the first choice of the party for the June 19 Rajya Sabha election.
This implies that the second nominee of the party, former union minister Bharatsinh Solanki, is in a precarious situation. A candidate requires 35 first preference votes to secure an outright win in the election.The first 35 MLAs of the Congress will cast their first preference vote for Shaktisinh Gohil, ensuring his win.
The remaining 30 will cast their first preference vote for Bharatsinh Solanki, but he will still be short of our votes to secure an outright win even if lone independent candidate Jignesh Mevani casts his first preference vote in favour of Solanki. The present strength of the Congress MLAs in Gujarat is 65.
Amit Chavda, GPCC president said on Saturday, “Shaktisinh Gohil will be the first preference candidate of the party in the Rajya Sabha election.”
Sources said that the national leadership conveyed its decision to state leaders that Shaktisinh Gohil will be the first choice of the party when voting takes place on June 19.