Surat BJP Candidate, Mukesh
After the first phase of India’s general election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with an ambitious target of securing 370 out of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, has claimed Surat seat. Mukesh Dalal, the BJP’s candidate in Gujarat’s Surat constituency, secured victory unopposed after the disqualification of Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani due to discrepancies in his nomination forms. Eight other candidates withdrew their nominations, paving the way for Dalal to become the first lawmaker elected to the 18th Lok Sabha.
Although unopposed victories are not unprecedented, Dalal’s win has sparked criticism from opposition parties. The Congress labeled it as “match-fixing,” while the Samajwadi Party (SP) accused the BJP of undermining people’s right to vote. SP leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav condemned the situation, stating that the people of Surat were disrespected by being denied the opportunity to vote.
Akhilesh Yadav hopes to capitalize on this issue, drawing parallels to his wife’s uncontested victory in a 2012 by-poll in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj constituency. The BJP’s failure to field a candidate on time resulted in Dimple Yadav’s walkover victory.
Uncontested wins are not uncommon in state polls either. At the beginning of this election season, the BJP secured 10 out of 60 seats in Arunachal Pradesh without facing any opposition.
The opposition’s accusations against the BJP extend beyond election tactics. They allege that the BJP seeks a brute majority in the Lok Sabha to potentially amend the Constitution, a charge vehemently denied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Congress faced further setbacks in Surat as they failed to nominate a replacement for Kumbhani. Speculation about Kumbhani joining the BJP added complexity to the situation.
This incident has raised concerns about the Congress’s electoral strategy in Gujarat, a traditional stronghold of the BJP. Recent defections from the Congress to the BJP, including high-profile leaders and party workers, have also added to the party’s challenges.
Despite the controversy, the BJP remains undeterred, asserting that Kumbhani’s potential defection would be within his democratic rights to join any party of his choice.
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