In a dramatic turn, BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal wins Surat Lok Sabha seat unopposed after alleged forgeries mar Congress’s nomination process
In a startling political development, BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal clinched the Surat Lok Sabha seat without opposition following the disqualification of the Congress nominee’s papers over a signature dispute. This incident, highlighting the cutthroat nature of Indian elections, occurred in the bustling city of Surat, known for its vibrant textile industry.
The controversy began when Dinesh Jodhani, the agent for the BJP candidate, challenged the authenticity of signatures on the nomination papers submitted by Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani. Jodhani claimed that these signatures, essential for validating the nomination, were forged. This claim led to an urgent scrutiny by Saurabh Parghi, the District Election Officer of Surat.
During a special hearing, Parghi examined the allegations and subsequently rejected the nomination of Kumbhani and his dummy candidate Suresh Padsala. The basis for this decision was the testimony of the proposers themselves, who disavowed the signatures in affidavits notarized by Kiran Ghoghari, a member of the Surat City BJP legal cell. Ghoghari, present at the Collector’s office for unrelated BJP duties, ended up notarizing the affidavits, charging a fee significantly above his usual rate.
The political drama didn’t end with the rejection of the nomination. The Congress camp was further rattled by the sudden withdrawal of eight other candidates, including the nominee from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which effectively handed Dalal an uncontested victory. These developments occurred under the shadow of allegations from Kumbhani claiming that his proposers had been kidnapped—an allegation that was quickly countered by the proposers’ own statements to the Surat Crime Branch clarifying they were not abducted.
Amid these tumultuous events, a photograph of Abdul Hamid Khan, another candidate who withdrew his nomination, posing with Gujarat BJP chief CR Paatil stirred further controversy. Though Khan insisted that his withdrawal was voluntary and his photo with Paatil innocuous, this did little to quell the speculations about pressure and political machinations behind the scenes.
This election saga in Surat not only underscores the intense rivalry between the major political parties but also casts a spotlight on the mechanisms of electoral integrity and legal scrutiny in Indian politics. The swift and unopposed victory of the BJP in Surat has raised questions and criticisms from various quarters, emphasizing the need for a transparent and fair electoral process.
