Rejected Congress leader Nilesh Kumbhani was suspended by the party for anomalies in his nomination form, which eventually led to the BJP winning the Surat Lok Sabha uncontested in Gujarat.
Kumbani said that he has been silent during these days because of respects for Shaktisingh Gohil, president of the party and Paresh Dhanani, a party Lok Sabha candidate.
“Congress leaders accused me of betrayal. But it was them who first betrayed me in 2017 assembly elections with my qualification for Surat Kamrej assembly seat being disqualified at the last minute. The Congress party made a mistake first not me” Kumbani told journalists here.
“The thing I don’t want to do but is upseting my supporters, office-bearers and workers is that five self-appointed leaders from Surat are leading our party and they neither work nor let others work. Though AAP and Congress like other major parties are part of India alliance but when I campaigned with AAP leaders here these leaders raised objections,” he said.
“Is this your revenge against Congress in current LS polls?” asked one reporter; however, Kumbhani did not answer directly instead reiterated his allegation about cancellation of votes in the state poll of 2017.
Kumbani who earlier served as MP from Surat Municipal Corporation contested against Kamrej during 2022 assembly elections but lost to BJP.
On April 21st , three proposers submitted affidavits claiming not to have signed his nomination form hence on April 22nd Nilesh Kumbhani’s nomination papers were rejected. Coincidentally, even congress replacement candidate Suresh Pathala had also faced rejection on that day thus terminating congress presence in this contest.
On April 22nd, Mukesh Dalal [BJP] got elected unopposed at Surat when all other candidates including one from BSP withdrew their nominations.
The AAP did not field a candidate from Surat due to its alliance with the Congress ahead of the polls. rejected the nomination form and accused him of “conniving with the BJP”.
Gujarat Lok Sabha polls will be held on May 7 in a single phase.
