Guj: 1218 nominations found valid for 87 seats in first phase

"After completion of scrutiny of nomination forms which ended yesterday, 1218 applications are found valid for the first phase. However, the number is expected to come down on the last day of withdrawal of nomination forms tomorrow (Nov 28)," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Ashok Manek told PTI here.

87 Assembly constituencies going to polls in the opening phase are spread across Saurashtra, South Gujarat and four talukas of western Ahmedabad.

The heavyweights testing the election waters in the first phase are Gujarat state unit Congress president Arjun Modhwadia who is taking on mining baron Babubhai Bokhiriya of BJP in Porbandar and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Shaktisinh Gohil locking horns with state Fisheries Minister Purshottam Solanki in Bhavnagar Rural.

Solanki has been accused of a role in the Rs 400-crore fisheries scam.

Gohil is facing an uphill task post-delimitation as newly carved out Bhavnagar Rural has more members from Koli community than Kshatriya community to which Gohil belongs.

Visavadar seat in Junagadh is expected to see a two-pronged battle with BJP's Kanubhai Bhalala being pitted against former chief minister and newly-formed GPP president Keshubhai Patel.

Congress candidate for Visavadar Rathibhai Mangroliya's nomination papers were rejected as he failed to produce his "mandate", which he claims was "stolen".