Surat: The nomination form of Congress party’s Surat Lok Sabha seat candidate, Nilesh Kumbhani has been prima facie found to attract invalidation by the Election Officer, as proposers Ramesh Palara, Jagdish Savaliya and Dhruvin Dhameliya, claimed they had not signed the nomination forms of Kumbhani. All thre proposers made this representation physically before the Election Officer and also presented affidavits.

Interestingly, Congress has also fielded Suresh Padsala as its dummy candidate on this seat. If Kumbhani’s nomination form is rejected, Padsala becomes party’s official candidate on Surat seat. However Suresh Padsala’s form has also attracted the same issue. His proposer has claimed the signature in Padsala’s nomination form was not his.

Kumbhani has roped in Jamir Sheikh as his advocate while Padsala has roped in Babu Mangukiya as his advocate. When received a notice by the Returning Officer, Kumbhani reached the district collector office and sought time before the final order is passed. The Election Officer has given time till noon the next day.

Surat based Congress spokesperson Naishad Desai said the issue will be taken to the court eventually if the final order by the Election Officer is not favorable tomorrow. AAP leader Gopal Italiya meanwhile claimed that the proposers who claimed their signatures were fake were party workers only and they could have ben kidnapped. Italiya said they could be under pressure. It’s worth noting that one of three proposers of Kumbhani is his friend and the other is husband of his sister. DeshGujarat

Surat is the Lok Sabha seat that has continuously elected BJP candidates since 1990s, with very high margins.