Nilesh Kumbhani, Surat Lok Sabha Candidate of Congress, Reported Missing Day After BJP’s Unopposed Victory

Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani, whose nomination as a Lok Sabha candidate was rejected due to alleged discrepancies, is reportedly missing from his home in Surat. This news comes in the wake of the BJP’s Mukesh Dalal being declared the winner in the BJP stronghold after all rival candidates withdrew from the contest. Amid speculation that Mr. Kumbhani may join the BJP, Congress workers protested outside his locked house, displaying posters reading “janata ka gaddar (people’s traitor).”

The BJP’s victory in Surat’s Lok Sabha seat without opposition has been called “the first lotus” by Gujarat BJP chief CR Paatil, who congratulated their candidate Mukesh Dalal for being elected unopposed. The Congress has expressed concerns to the Election Commission, alleging that the ruling BJP in Gujarat exerted “wrong and undue influence,” and has demanded a restart of the poll process in Surat. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi stated that the cancellation of Kumbhani’s nomination coincided with the sudden withdrawal of all other candidates.

The district election officer has requested Mr. Kumbhani to respond within a day regarding the cancellation of his nomination, which occurred after neither he nor his proposers appeared to support his nomination form within the given timeframe. On the last day for withdrawing nominations, eight candidates, including the BSP pick and Independents, withdrew their nominations, leading to Mukesh Dalal’s declaration as the winner of the election.