Television-actor turned politician Smriti Irani was on Saturday chosen by the BJP as its candidate from Gujarat for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections.
Irani, who shot to fame with her role in a family soap opera, was chosen by the BJP Central election committee here. She is the chairperson of the party’s women’s wing, Bhartiya Mahila Morcha.
The 35-year-old actor has pipped BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman for the nomination. Their names were doing the rounds for the past few weeks for BJP’s share of seats from Gujarat to the council of states.
Party sources said Sitharaman may be accommodated in the Rajya Sabha in the near future from some other state.
The other BJP candidate chosen for the Rajya Sabha from the state is Dilipbhai Pandya.