The Gujarat Parivartan Party today withdraws its candidate from Maninagar constituency, paving way for a direct contest between Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt, wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt.

"We are withdrawing our candidate, Pravin Patel, from Maninagar Assembly constituency in favour of Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt so that there is a direct fight between Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Shweta Bhatt," (GPP) general secretary Gordhan Zadaphia said.

The move comes following Shweta Bhatt's appeal to Keshubhai Patel-led Gujarat Parivartan Party to withdraw its candidate in fray from Maninagar. "I appeal to all the political parties which oppose BJP to support me in my political battle against the Gujarat Chief Minister... I appeal especially to GPP Chief Keshubhai Patel to withdraw his candidate," Shweta had said yesterday.

"I am confident that Keshubhai will accept my appeal," she had said. Maninagar, a BJP-dominated constituency, has seen Modi winning for the last two times.