BJP’s 27-yr-old to take on Congress veteran

The BJP has pitted 27-year-old Harsh Sanghavi against Congress' 46-year old Dhanpat Jain from Majura seat in Surat for the Assembly elections. With a majority of voters in Majura being Jain community, both the parties have nominated Jain candidates.

Sanghavi should be lucky as there were "big" contenders for the BJP ticket from Majura. He runs a diamond jewellery manufacturing business and hails from Deesa in Banaskantha district. He is the first from his family to enter politics.

On Saturday, Sanghavi accompanied by his parents, wife and two-year-old son reached district electoral office to file his nomination papers. The Gujarat state general secretary of BJP's youth wing since 2010, Sanghavi had to leave studies at a very early age. He has studied till class IX. "This is my first ever election in my life. As the party has given the responsibility on my shoulders, I will definitely fulfill it by winning Majura for the party," he told The Sunday Express.

Sanghavi acknowledged that the contest will not be a easy one. "My main competitor Dhanpat Jain also has good image in the society and the fight would be tough," he added.

However, he is banking on business community to bail him out. "Among the 2.15 lakh voters in my constituency, over 42,000 voters are Jains, followed by around 9,000 Agrawals and Maheshwaris," he said. Dhanpat Jain, on the other hand, is also businessman — a textile trader from Rajasthan.

ALSO READ

Astronomy buffs geared up for meteor shower

Narendra Modi dials Lalu, enquires about health after car accident

From Ramdev stage in Haridwar, Modi swears by gurus of all hues

PIL puts Tata Motors, state govt in the dock over Nano deal