‘Attempt to match-fix’: Congress on BJP’s Mukesh Dalal winning Surat Lok Sabha seat uncontested

As per Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, the nomination of Suresh Padsala, INC’s substitute candidate from Surat, was also rejected.

BJP's Mukesh Dalal with Gujarat BJP president CR Paatil. (X/ANI)

The Congress on Monday reacted sharply to the BJP’s candidate being declared the winner uncontested from Surat Lok Sabha constituency, accusing the ruling party of attempting to “match-fix” a seat “which they (BJP) have won consistently since 1984 Lok Sabha elections”.

“All other candidates withdraw their nomination except BJP’s candidate, Mukesh Dalal. BJP candidate declared “elected unopposed” from Surat Lok Sabha seat on April 22nd, 2024, nearly two weeks before polling on May 7th 2024. The distress and anger faced by MSME owners and businesspeople in Modi’s Anyay Kaal has spooked the BJP so badly that they are attempting to “match-fix” Surat Lok Sabha, which they have won consistently since 1984 Lok Sabha elections!,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.

Mukesh Dalal won the election “unopposed” a day after the nomination of the party’s Surat Lok Sabha candidate was rejected on Sunday over alleged discrepancies in the signature of the proposers. Surat District Election Officer (DEO) and Collector Saurabh Parghi Sunday said the discrepancies emerged during the verification of signatures in the documents of the three proposers and those presented in the support of Nilesh Kumbhani’s nomination. The nomination of Suresh Padsala, the Congress’ substitute candidate from Surat, was also cancelled on similar grounds, said the officials.

Democracy is under threat. Aap chronology samajhiye:

• Surat District Election Officer rejects @INCIndia’s candidate for Surat Lok Sabha, Nilesh Kumbhani’s nomination for “discrepancies in verification of signatures of three proposers”

• On similar grounds, officials reject… https://t.co/uEnLeCGOG7

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 22, 2024

“On similar grounds, officials reject the nomination of Suresh Padsala, the INC’s substitute candidate from Surat. Congress Party is left without a candidate,” Ramesh added.

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BJP’s Mukesh Dalal received the Member of Parliament (MP) certificate from Surat District Collector on Monday after all other candidates withdrew from the fray.

VIDEO | Surat District Collector gives Member of Parliament (MP) certificate to BJP’s Mukesh Dalal, who was elected unopposed from Surat Lok Sabha seat after all other candidates withdrew from the fray. #LSPolls2024WithPTI #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/0raJgl8RGu

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 22, 2024

Monday (April 22) was also the last date to withdraw nominations ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Surat as part of phase 3 on May 7. The opposition Congress party had also decided to move the Gujarat High Court to seek a stay on the election in the constituency, which is said to be a BJP bastion.

Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil had also sent out an appeal to the Election Commission for a “suo moto review”.

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