 "Congress' Indore candidate Akshay Bam withdraws nomination, joins BJP")
In another setback to Congress, its Lok Sabha candidate from Indore, Akshay Bam, dropped out of the race and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just days before the constituency goes to polls. The Congress had fielded Bam against sitting BJP MP Shankar Lalwani from the Indore Lok Sabha seat, where polling will be held on May 13 in the fourth phase.
Confirming the development, cabinet minister in the Madhya Pradesh government, Kailash Vijayvargiya extended a warm welcome to Bam upon his induction into the party.
ALSO READ: Controversial YouTuber joins BJP: Why is Manish Kashyap making news again
ALSO READ: Controversial YouTuber joins BJP: Why is Manish Kashyap making news again
"We welcome Akshay Kanti Bam Ji Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Indore into the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national BJP president JP Nadda and state president VD Sharma", Vijayvargiya posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The recent development occurred shortly after the nomination form submitted by Congress leader Nilesh Kumbhani for the Surat Lok Sabha seat was rejected. This rejection stemmed from the revelation by three proposers to the district returning officer that the signatures on the document were not theirs. Similarly, Suresh Padsala, Congress' alternative candidate for Surat, suffered the same fate due to similar reasons.
Kumbhani, a former Surat corporator, had previously contested the 2022 Assembly elections in the Kamrej constituency but failed to secure victory.
On April 22, BJP's Mukesh Dalal emerged victorious uncontested for the Surat Lok Sabha constituency. This came after all other candidates, including one from the BSP, withdrew their nominations one after the other.
Voting for other seats in Gujarat will be held on May 7 during the third phase of the Lok Sabha general elections. The result will be announced on June 4.
WATCH: Indore Cong candidate joins BJP, Google lays off Python team & more
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%