Jaitley files nomination papers for Rajya Sabha from Gujarat

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, who is seeking a third term to the Upper House, on Monday filed his nomination papers from Gujarat along with two other candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Jaitley filed his nomination along with former Member of Legislative Assembly Mansukh Mandaviya and party functionary Shankar Vegad for the March 30 biennial elections.

"I thank people of Gujarat, Narendra Modi (chief minister) and state BJP president R C Faldu for giving me the opportunity to raise the voice of the state in Rajya Sabha by nominating me along with two senior party members," Jaitley told reporters after filing his nomination papers.

Mandaviya is former BJP legislator from Palitana assembly constituency and is presently the chairperson of Gujarat Agro-Industries Corporation. He is also the member of the state BJP executive committee and in-charge of the party's Rajkot district unit. He comes from the powerful Leuva Patel community of the state.

Vegad is the vice president of the Surendranagar district BJP unit and belongs to the Koli community. He has also been a member of the Surendranagar Municipal Corporation for 20 years and has served as its vice president for five years.