In Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won the Surat Loksabha seat unopposed today. On the last day of the withdrawal of nominations, BJP candidate for the Surat seat, Mukesh Dalal, was declared winner as all his opponents withdrew from the election fray today. Surat District Collector and Returning Officer Saurabh Pardhi made the official announcement today.

Our correspondent reports that as many as eight candidates including BSP candidate Pyarelal Bharati and other independent candidates withdrew their nominations today. The nomination of Congress Candidate Nilesh Kumbhani was rejected yesterday over the proposers’ fake signatures.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party on the issue. The Congress objected to the unopposed election of the BJP candidate. Mr Singhvi said, the Congress has raised the issue with the Commission highlighting that level playing filed was not provided during the election. He demanded the Commission to postpone the election and announce a fresh date.