The party inducted 20 fresh faces in the list, dropping 13 of the 57 sitting MLAs on the grounds of ‘local anti-incumbency reasons’, BJP General Secretary Ananth Kumar, who is the Secretary of the CEC, told newspersons after the meeting. This effectively would mean that the party has renominated 37 MLAs. Two MLAs had opted out of the race while five MLAs had left the party.

Mr Modi is the only name cleared by the CEC where the elections are to be held in the second phase. The first phase of polling is to be held in South Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch region. The 74 names cleared by the party include 13 women, six Scheduled Caste, and 17 Scheduled Tribes candidates.

Unanimous decision
Mr Kumar said the CEC had a detailed discussion on the recommendations of the state list and decided unanimously. The winnability aspect was a major factor that weighed in favour of the selected nominees and the party had to clear the names of 13 more MLAs for the first phase.