NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, VADODARA, JUNE 22
A senior Congress leader from Gujarat was on Monday hospitalised in Vadodara after testing positive for novel coronavirus, a senior IAS officer said.
Bharatsinh Solanki, the Congress nominee for the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, tested positive for coronavirus on Monday. He has been admitted to a private hospital in Vadodara.
Solanki, former Minister in the UPA II government, was the second nominee from the Congress for one of the four Rajya Sabha seats.
“Solanki was feeling unwell on Sunday. He got himself checked for COVID-19 on Monday. His test came out positive. He was rushed to the Banker Hospital in Vadodara,” said Manish Doshi, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesperson.
“The Congress leader has been admitted in a designated COVID-19 hospital in Vadodara on Monday morning. His condition is stable,” said Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Vinod Rao.
State Congress unit president Amit Chavda said the party leader came in close contact with MLAs and other leaders.
“He was alright till the election and the thermal scanner at the entrance of polling booth also cleared him on June 19. He felt sick on Sunday and gave his samples for testing. He was admitted to a hospital today morning after his results came positive,” Chavda said.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani rang up the Congress leader on phone to inquire about his well-being.. Rupani assured of best medical treatment and facilities for Solanki, and also extended best wishes for his fast recovery so that he joins back for the people’s welfare.
Following Solanki’s test report, Shaktisinh Gohil, his fellow nominee who won the lone Rajya Sabha seat for the Congress from Gujarat, quarantined himself in Delhi.
Gohil was preparing to visit Bihar on Monday. Solanki and Gohil accompanied each other throughout the Rajya Sabha elections day on Friday.
Solanki, a former GPCC chief in 2006-2008 and 2015-2018, was a minister of state for drinking water and sanitation (independent charge) from October 2012 to May 2014. He was also the minister of state for railways from January 2011 to October 2012 and the minister of state for power from June 2009 to January 2011.
Solanki represented the Anand Lok Sabha seat from 2004 to 2014.
