Before the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat, the BJP may already be set to open its account in the Surat seat as the Congress candidate's nomination has been rejected. Additionally, seven independent candidates might also withdraw their filings. All eyes will then turn towards the BSP candidate's next move. If they retract their nomination, the BJP could secure an uncontested victory in this seat.
After the rejection of Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani's nomination in Surat, speculations suggest an assured victory for the BJP in an independent capacity. Initially, ten candidates had filed nominations for this seat. With Congress's nomination dismissed, there are eight candidates left against the BJP's Mukesh Dalal. Rumours are circulating that these candidates may pull out.
All of Gujarat's seats to vote on May 7th
It is noteworthy that all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat are set to cast their votes in the third phase on May 7th, the last date for filing nominations being April 19th and for withdrawal on April 22nd. Following a complaint by BJP, Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani's form was rejected due to issues with proposers.
The candidates for the Surat seat
In this scenario, the contesting candidates for Surat Lok Sabha seat, besides BJP's Mukesh Dalal, include BSP's Pyarelal Bharti, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party's Abdul Hamid Khan, Global Republican Party's Jayesh Mewada, People Party's Sohel Khan, along with independents Ajitsingh Umat, Kishor Dayani, Rameshbhai Baraiya, and Bharat Prajapati. The attention now pivots to the BSP candidate Pyarelal Bharti and whether he will withdraw his nomination.
Former PM Morarji Desai represented Surat 5 times in Parliament
Please note that in Gujarat's 26 seats, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party have formed an alliance, under which Congress had fielded its candidate from Surat. However, after the dismissal of Nilesh's candidacy, the BJP has had a stronghold on the Surat Lok Sabha seat since 1989. It remains to be seen which party's flag will be hoisted this time in Surat.
