Congress' Surat candidate Nilesh Kumbhani likely to join BJP

Politics is likely to take a new twist in Gujarat. A day after BJP won the Surat Lok Sabha seat unopposed, Congress leader Nilesh Kumbhani, whose nomination as Lok Sabha candidate was rejected over alleged discrepancies, is likely to join the BJP.Amid reports claiming that Kumbhani may join the BJP, Congress workers protested outside his locked house with posters that read, "janata ka gaddar (people's traitor)" and "killer of democracy", .The dramatic events follow the BJP's first Lok Sabha win in Surat, unopposed. Gujarat BJP chief CR Paatil on Monday said Surat has presented "the first lotus" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I congratulate our candidate for Surat Lok Sabha seat Mukesh Dalal for getting elected unopposed," he said in a post on X .
Kumbhani's nomination form was rejected after he was unable to present even one of his three proposers before Returning Officer Sourabh Pardhi.It is reported that preparations are underway in Congress to legally challenge Kumbhani's move. And on the other hand,the BJP has reportedly made arrangements to welcome Nilesh Kumbhani into the party. Kumbhani is expected to join the BJP by the end of this week or later.

(Ira Singh, Asstt Editor, Gandhinagar)