Two election phases have passed in the nation, but within the Congress party, a different phase of relinquishing battlefronts is unfolding. High-ranking officials are resigning, candidates are abandoning their nominations, and some are not revealing their cards in what were once considered strongholds. Come Monday, startling news emerged from the substantial Lok Sabha seat of Indore. The groom's prep was in full swing, the procession ready, but suddenly, the candidate turned back. In plain terms, the Congress nominee, on the final day for nomination withdrawal, personally removed his candidacy, thereby cleaning out Congress' chances in Indore, a city known for its cleanliness.
Momentum is with the BJP as they win one seat uncontested, and the victory seems certain in two others. The INDIA alliance candidate's paperwork on Khajuraho's seat was rejected due to a lack of signatures. Subsequently, the INDIA alliance supported the All India Forward Block's candidate instead. In Gujarat's Surat, both the official and dummy Congress candidates' papers were rejected. The remaining independent candidates withdrew their nominations, resulting in a clear win for BJP's nominee. Now, in Congress's home district of Indore, their candidate Akshay Bam withdrew his candidacy.
Source: aajtak
A Congress Candidate Switches to BJP's Fold
The political drama intensified when the Congress candidate proceeded to withdraw his nomination, BJP MLA Ramesh Mendola was spotted at the collector's office. Akshay Kanti Bam soon joined forces with BJP senior leader Kailash Vijayvargiya. This raises the question: why did the Congress candidate make such a move? Speculations of government or legislative turnovers bring instant allegations of operation lotus. The unexpected twist in Indore has been met with accusations that the Congress candidate was coerced into his decision.
Devendra Yadav, the head of Congress' city committee in Indore, was seen venting on the phone outside the collector's office, questioning the nomination withdrawal, "I kept saying that he would withdraw. Did you hand out the ticket just for money without considerations of contribution or struggle? The party high command should see they are hitting hard at workers like us. Left standing alone while he walks away. Why does the party give prominence to money over work?"
Will There Be More Surprises in Madhya Pradesh's Seat Outcomes?
Local Congress leaders had already expressed their doubts about their candidate, fearing sudden changes loomed. Their apprehensions turned into reality, and now the question is: could similar situations unfold in other Madhya Pradesh seats? Chief Minister Mohan Yadav states democratically, "Our door is always open. We select who to let in. With around a quarter of a million people joining, the party's growth is evident. A majority are finding space under the umbrella. Congress should ponder why their people are leaving".
Source: aajtak
The Continuing Saga of Amethi's Seat
Prior to each election phase, the BJP receives good news. Before the first phase, the SP candidate's nomination was dismissed in Khajuraho. Before the second phase, the Congress candidate's nomination was invalidated in Surat. Now, with the withdrawal of the Congress candidate in Indore before the third phase, Amethi's seat stands in the spotlight. Smriti Irani, who faced defeat in 2014, turned the tables in 2019, now claims a house in Amethi as her address. Rahul Gandhi too called Amethi home, but now suspense lingers over his candidacy from this seat.
Khajuraho's Seat Tactic Unraveled
Within the BJP-governed state, Congress had forfeited the Khajuraho seat to SP as part of the INDIA seat-sharing arrangement. BJP, fielding its state president VD Sharma, watched SP candidate Meera Yadav's nomination get dismissed for two flaws in the paperwork. Following this, the INDIA alliance extended their support to All India Forward Block's candidate.
Unopposed, BJP Candidate Triumphs in Surat
In Surat, BJP's Mukesh Dalal was declared the unopposed winner. The returning officer canceled Congress nominee Nilesh Kumbhani's nomination over inconsistencies in the proposers' signatures. Following the disqualification of other candidates, Dalal was pronounced the uncontested victor, marking the first such unchallenged win for a BJP Lok Sabha candidate.
