In an unprecedented turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opened its account in Lok Sabha Elections 2024 before counting after party candidate Mukesh Dalal won Surat seat unopposed.
Earlier the poll body had rejected nomination of Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani after his proposers claimed that they didn’t sign his papers. Moreover, all seven candidates, including BSP’s Pyarelal Bharti withdrew from the contest, paving the way for BJP’s win.
In a huge setback to Gujarat Congress, nomination papers of the party’s Lok Sabha candidate from Surat Nilesh Kumbhani were rejected after his three proposers claimed in an affidavit to the district election officer that they had not signed his nomination form.
The Congress’ backup candidate Suresh Padsala also met the same fate, effectively removing the grand old party from the electoral contest in this key city.
The decision was announced by the district Returning Officer, Sourabh Pardhi, who noted that the signatures on the nomination forms needed to be more genuine. The proposers denied having signed the forms themselves.
The controversy arose just after Dinesh Jodhani, the election agent for the BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal, raised objections. In response, Kumbhani defended the authenticity of the signatures, suggesting that a handwriting expert and the signatories verify them.
Despite these efforts, the Returning Officer confirmed the rejections based on the affidavits and additional evidence presented during the scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress Chief Sakthisinh Gohil alleged the nomination of Congress candidate was rejected at the behest of BJP, which has sensed defeat. He said Congress will file a petition in Gujarat High Court against the Returning Officer’s decision.
