Congress's 'missing' Surat candidate, reappears after 20 days
What's the story
Suspended Congress Party leader Nilesh Kumbhani, who had been missing for 20 days, reemerged on Saturday.
He had gone missing since Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Mukesh Dalal was elected unopposed from Surat last month.
Dalal won after Kumbhani's nomination was rejected owing to errors and all other contenders withdrew their candidacy.
Days after the defeat, the Congress suspended Kumbhani for six years, saying that he either colluded with the BJP or was "completely careless" while filing his nomination form.
Accusations
Kumbhani accuses Congress of betrayal in 2017 elections
Upon his return, Kumbhani accused the Congress of betraying him first in 2017.
Kumbhani explained his silence as a sign of respect for Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil and the party's Rajkot Lok Sabha candidate Paresh Dhanani.
He stated, "Congress leaders are accusing me of betrayal. However, it was the Congress which betrayed me first in the 2017 assembly elections when my ticket for Kamrej assembly seat in Surat was canceled at the last moment."
Dissatisfaction
Kumbhani expresses dissatisfaction with Congress leadership
The former Congress corporator in the Surat Municipal Corporation also expressed dissatisfaction with the party's leadership in Surat.
He claimed that his supporters and staff were upset because "the party is being run by five self-proclaimed leaders in Surat, and they neither work nor allow others to work."
He also mentioned that these leaders objected when he campaigned with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, despite both parties being part of the INDIA alliance.
Nomination rejection
Kumbhani's nomination rejection leads to BJP's unopposed win
Kumbhani's nomination form was rejected on April 21 after three proposers submitted affidavits claiming they had not signed the document.
The nomination form of Suresh Padsala, the Congress's substitute candidate, was also rejected, bringing the party's participation in the contest to an end.
Consequently, BJP's Mukesh Dalal was declared elected unopposed from Surat on April 22.