However, things have changed between 2009 and 2014 for the 87-year-old leader, due to his posturing against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi when the latter was declared as the prime ministerial candidate,though he gradually reconciled to the fact and then praised the BJP strongman time and again.
Many senior members did not make it in the first list of candidates declared by the BJP yesterday, though leaders like Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde found a place in it.
The Gandhinagar seat is considered to be one of the safest seats for the BJP due to large urban areas of Ahmedabad city also being part of the constituency where the party has a big following.
Modi is yet to decide on which seat will he fight elections from the state, party sources said.
