Principal Opposition party Congress in Gujarat received a major jolt after the nomination of party candidate from Surat Lok Sabha seat Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected by the district returning officer, following alleged signature discrepancies of the proposers.
The party was in for a double whammy when the nomination form of Suresh Padsala, the substitute candidate from Congress for the same seat, was also dismissed, which effectively ended the party’s bid for the elections from Surat seat.
The BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal’s election agent had raised objections to the nomination forms, prompting the returning officer to grant the Congress candidate an opportunity to present his case on Sunday.
In response, Kumbhani asserted that the proposers had signed the forms in his presence and suggested a handwriting expert examine the signatures. The returning officer, after reviewing the affidavits and evidence, deemed the signatures suspicious and rejected the nominations, ensuring the proposers were not coerced or under duress.
Now the party plans to challenge the decision by approaching the High Court and Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Mukesh Dalal continues his electoral campaign. In a separate incident, the nominations of AAP candidate Umesh Makwana for the Bhavnagar seat and Congress candidate Jenny Thummar for the Amreli seat were accepted after addressing objections raised by the BJP regarding missing details in their affidavits.
Congress and AAP, in an alliance for the Gujarat Lok Sabha polls, are fielding candidates in 24 out of 26 constituencies. BJP’s objections to certain candidates’ nominations reflect the competitive nature of the electoral landscape in the state.
As the electoral drama unfolds in Gujarat, the rejection of key nominations adds a layer of complexity to the political dynamics shaping the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state. Voting in Surat is scheduled to take place on 7 May (Phase 3).
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