AAP Demands Criminal Case Against Congress Candidate Nilesh Kumbhani in Surat Lok Sabha Polls

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded that a criminal case be filed against Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani in the Surat Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat. Kumbhani's nomination papers were rejected by the district returning officer on April 21 due to alleged discrepancies in the signatures of his proposers. After Kumbhani's rejection, eight other candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving BJP's Mukesh Dalal as the sole remaining candidate for the seat.

The Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that Dalal was declared the winner due to undue influence and demanding fresh elections in the constituency. The party claims that four supporters nominated Kumbhani, but they later filed affidavits stating false signatures. Kumbhani went missing for a few hours before the other candidates withdrew their nominations.

Congress party workers have protested against Kumbhani, accusing him of being a "Traitor of the People" and a "Murderer of Democracy." Speculations have also been raised about Kumbhani switching to the BJP as early as the end of this week. The AAP submitted a memorandum to the Surat district collector, urging legal action against Kumbhani for his alleged subversion of the electoral process.

Why this matters: The controversy surrounding Kumbhani's nomination rejection and the subsequent unopposed election of the BJP candidate raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. It highlights the need for thorough investigations into allegations of undue influence and potential collusion between candidates and political parties.

Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh, have criticized the BJP and expressed concerns over the erosion of democratic norms. Meanwhile, the Gujarat BJP president and the Chief Minister have congratulated Mukesh Dalal on his uncontested victory, hailing it as a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ECI is expected to investigate the Congress party's complaint and determine if any irregularities occurred in the Surat Lok Sabha polls.

Key Takeaways

• AAP demands criminal case against Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani in Surat LS polls
• Kumbhani's nomination rejected due to alleged discrepancies, leading to BJP's unopposed win
• Congress alleges undue influence, demands fresh elections; claims Kumbhani may join BJP
• AAP urges legal action against Kumbhani for alleged subversion of electoral process
• ECI to investigate Congress' complaint, concerns raised over integrity of electoral process