Reasons Why 8 Candidates Withdrew From Surat Lok Sabha Seat

While the Congress candidate faced rejection of his nomination papers and has reportedly been absent from public view, other candidates who withdrew their nominations also seem to be ‘missing in action’.

Mukesh Kumar Dalal, the BJP candidate from Surat Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat, became the first candidate to be elected to the 18th Lok Sabha. This historic victory came about when all other candidates, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) nominee, withdrew their nominations prior to the polling in Gujarat. Mukesh Kumar Dalal, a 62-year-old resident of Adajan in Surat city with a background in the textile industry, emerged as the sole candidate from the Surat Lok Sabha constituency after 8 contenders withdrew their nominations on the final day.

While the Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani faced rejection of his nomination papers and has reportedly been absent from public view, citing a lack of support from his party members, other candidates who withdrew their nominations also seem to be ‘missing in action’.

Candidates who withdrew nomination

The list of candidates who withdrew their nominations includes Pyarelal Bharti of the BSP, Abdul Hamid Khan of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Party, Soheil Shekh of Log Party, Jayeshbhai Mevada of Global Republican Party, and Independent candidates Bharatbhai Prajapati, Ajitsinh Umat, Kishorbhai Dayani, and Parsottambhai Bariya.

Here’s are the eight candidates and their reasons for dropping out:

1. Pyarelal Bharti, 58: Bharti, fielded by the BSP, was seen as the only viable challenge to BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal. According to BSP, Bharti went missing after withdrawing his nomination and are still not able to get in touch with him.
2. Bharatbhai Prajapati, 50: Contacted by The Indian Express, Bharatbhai said, “I thought my form would be rejected, but then it was accepted. I went into depression about how I would contest. Even my blood pressure went down and I fell ill. My family members then told me to withdraw.”
3. Kishor Dayani, 45: Speaking to The Indian Express, he said, “The community people including BJP leaders came to me and told me that all the candidates had withdrawn after the Congress candidate’s form was rejected. They said that if I alone do not withdraw, an election would be held with lakhs of rupees of the government wasted.”
4. Sohel Shaikh, 31: Shaikh said he decided to contest because of his interest in elections. “But then I got thinking about how I would contest as I don’t have many supporters. So I lost interest and decided to withdraw.”
5. Jayesh Mevada, 54: “was interested in fighting the elections. But after seeing the rejection of the Congress candidate’s nomination and the withdrawal of the others, I also withdrew.
6. Baraiya Ramesh, 58: I would not have withdrawn, but seeing the situation of the Congress candidate and the other Independents who withdrew, I too decided to give up.”
7. Abdul Hamid Khan, 52: Khan, whose photo with BJP state president C R Paatil, who belongs to Surat, went viral after his withdrawal, said he took the decision “due to some personal reasons”. “I don’t want to share them,” he told The Indian Express.
8. Ajit Sinh Umat, 39: Umat filed his nomination as an Independent and mentioned doing “private work” in his affidavit. He could not be reached despite repeated attempts, the report said.

Nilesh Kumbhani reaches home, then disappears again

Nilesh Kumbhani, the disqualified Congress candidate for the Surat Lok Sabha seat, reached his house in the city but refused to meet media persons on Thursday. Heavy police bandobast was installed at his apartment to ensure that no unlawful situation takes place around the building in Sarthana.

On Thursday, he developed some health complications and was admitted to a private hospital. However, his family members were not available to comment about his location or health status. It is rumoured that Kumbhani will announce his next political move of joining the BJP in the next few days.