New Delhi: BJP National President Amit Shah and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani have filed their nomination papers for Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. BJP has also fielded Balwantsinh Rajput - as its third candidate for Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Balwantsinh Rajput, the former chief whip of Congress legislative party joined BJP on Thursday evening along with two other Congress MLAs.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, State BJP President Jitibhai Vaghani, former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and other party leaders remained present during the filing of nomination papers. Earlier, Congress candidate Ahmed Patel had filed his nomination papers for Rajya Sabha seat from Gujarat. Friday was the last day of filing of nomination papers for 3 seats of Rajya Sabha. Polling is scheduled on August 8.

Other two MLAs, who joined BJP are MLA from Viramgar Dr Tejshree Patel and MLA from Vijapur Prahalad Patel.