BJP claims victory EVEN before elections on Surat's Lok Sabha seat; Here's what happened

Amid the ongoing elections, the nation is waiting for the conclusion of the polling, which is scheduled to be completed by June 1 and the results will be declared on June 4. However, Gurajat's Surat Lok Sabha seat's result came way too early. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured its first victory. Mukesh Dalal, the BJP's candidate from Gujarat's Surat constituency, emerged victorious as all opposing candidates withdrew from the electoral contest.

#WATCH | Gujarat: Mukesh Dalal, BJP's candidate from the Surat Lok Sabha seat collects his winning certificate after he was elected unopposed

The Congress candidate's form was rejected by the Returning Officer, the other eight candidates for the seat withdrew their nominations.… pic.twitter.com/Uzslcbj8aD

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024

How did it happen? 

The Congress candidate, Nilesh Kumbhani, faced a setback when his nomination form was rejected by the Returning Officer due to the unavailability of his three proposers. Moreover, eight other candidates for the Surat seat withdrew their nominations, paving the way for the BJP's uncontested win.

Why Congress candidate's nomination was rejected by ECI?

Questions were raised regarding the authenticity of signatures on Kumbhani's nomination form, prompting the Returning Officer to invalidate his candidacy. The same fate befell Suresh Padsala, the Congress' substitute candidate, leading to the party's exclusion from the electoral race in Surat.

Return officer's ruling

Returning Officer Sourabh Pardhi cited discrepancies in the signatures of the proposers and deemed them as invalid. Despite providing an opportunity for Kumbhani to address the concerns, his failure to produce the proposers resulted in the rejection of his nomination.

Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil tweets "Congratulations and best wishes to Mukesh Dalal, candidate for Surat Lok Sabha seat, for being elected unopposed"#LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/d0RgyQ8rtz

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2024

Congress allegations

The Congress alleged foul play by the ruling BJP, asserting that intimidation tactics compelled candidates to withdraw. Congress leader Babu Mangukiya claimed that Kumbhani's proposers were allegedly kidnapped, urging the Returning Officer to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Mangukiya criticized the decision to cancel the nomination without verifying the signatures and called for a telephonic verification process. He emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the proposers' signatures to ensure procedural fairness.

As the BJP celebrates its victory in Surat, the incident has sparked controversy and allegations of political maneuvering. The demand for a thorough investigation underscores the need for transparency and integrity in the electoral process.