New Delhi Apr 22 (UNI) The Congress while reacting sharply to the rejection of nomination of its Surat Lok Sabha seat candidate on Monday said that the ‘match-fix’ of the seat by BJP only showed that the party was scared of its defeat.

In a post on social media X, general secretary in-charge communication, Jairam Ramesh said, “The distress and anger faced by MSME owners and business people in Modi’s Anyay Kaal has spooked the BJP so badly that they are attempting to “match-fix” Surat Lok Sabha, which they have won consistently since 1984 Lok Sabha elections!"

He said, "Surat District Election Officer rejects @INCIndia’s candidate for Surat Lok Sabha, Nilesh Kumbhani’s nomination for “discrepancies in verification of signatures of three proposers”. On similar grounds, officials rejected the nomination of Suresh Padsala, the INC’s substitute candidate from Surat. Congress Party is left without a candidate".

The senior Congress leader said that only the BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was left in the fray as other candidates have withdrawn their nomination.

"BJP candidate declared “elected unopposed” from Surat Lok Sabha seat on April 22nd, 2024, nearly two weeks before polling on May 7th 2024," Ramesh said.

Stating that democracy is under threat, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "Our elections, our democracy, Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution – all are under a generational threat. This is the most important election of our lifetime!"
UNI RBE CS1720