Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) on December 3 withdrew its candidate from Maninagar constituency, paving way for a direct contest between Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt, wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt. “We are withdrawing our candidate, Pravin Patel, from Maninagar Assembly constituency in favour of Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt so that there is a direct fight between Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Shweta Bhatt,” GPP General Secretary Gordhan Zadaphia said.
The move came after Bhatt’s appeal wherein she said, “I appeal to all the political parties that oppose BJP to support me in my political battle against the Gujarat Chief Minister… I appeal especially to GPP Chief Keshubhai Patel to withdraw his candidate.” “I am confident that Keshubhai will accept my appeal,” she added.