Several heavyweight candidates are in fray in the first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections on December 13. Here's a look at some of them.
83-year-old Keshubhai Patel, who represents the Leuva sub-caste of the strong Patel community, is contesting from Visavadar constituency under the banner of his newly-formed Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP). The former chief minister had quit BJP in August.
Ganpat Vasava (standing next to Mr Modi), the Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly, is one of the BJP heavyweights in the fray in the first phase of elections. He is contesting from Mangrol constituency in Surat district. He is the first tribal leader and also youngest MLA to have assumed the chair of the speaker.
Arjun Modhwadia, the president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, will be hoping to retain his seat in Porbandar constituency which is dominated by the Maher community. In this picture he is seen with Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit at the launch of Congress' manifesto in Ahmedabad on December 4.
Leader of Opposition in the state and a prominent Kshatriya Leader - Shaktisinh Gohil (inset) - will be contesting from Bhavnagar Rural. He is up against one of Modi's ministers - Purshottam Solanki.
State BJP chief Ranchhodbhai Chanabhai Faldu (inset) is contesting from Jamnagar Rural constituency. A political advisor to the chief minister he is one of the leaders of Leuva sub-caste of Patel community. He is pitched against fielded Congress' Raghavji Patel.
State's Agriculture minister Dilip Sanghani will be contesting from the Amreli assembly constituency, which is considered to be his bastion. He is also one of the crorepati candidates fighting this poll.
