The BJP will contest in three seats in the biennial polls, with the terms of incumbent RS members Keshubhai Patel and Jayanti Barot expiring, and that of Jana Krishnamoorthy lying vacant following his demise.

The Congress will be in the fray for one seat that will fall vacant after the six-year term of the party's lone woman RS member from Gujarat Alka Kshatriya ends.

According to party sources, besides being close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Irani had extensively campaigned for the party in the last Assembly elections in Gujarat where woman voters had played a crucial role in the party's victory.

“We would certainly welcome Tulsi if the party leadership nominates her for the biennial RS polls from Gujarat,” a party source said on Wednesday.

The party sources also do not rule out the possibility of Modi bete-noire and former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel being re-nominated. Despite the fact that Keshubhai had lent his tacit support to the rebels during the December Assembly polls, Modi could recommend his name for a re-nomination to the Upper House, the sources said.

Keshubhai said it was up to the party high command to decide whether to nominate him or not. “The BJP’s state Parliamentary Board is expected to meet either on March 8 or 9 to discuss the names of the party probables for the impending biennial polls. Let's see what they decide," said Keshubhai, refuting rumours that he may not re-contest the elections due to his "failing health."

Another name doing the rounds in the party circles is that of state BJP general secretary Bharatsinh Parmar from South Gujarat. A senior party leader said that Jayanti Barot, considered a close confidante of Modi, was likely to be re-nominated to the Upper House.