The Congress party faced another setback as its Lok Sabha candidate for Indore, Akshay Bam, withdrew from the race and joined the BJP just before the voting in the constituency. The unexpected turn of events was revealed through a post by senior Madhya Pradesh BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, who shared a photo of Bam in a car, indicating his switch to the BJP. This development marks the second loss of a Lok Sabha candidate for the Congress party within a short span of time, adding to the challenges it faces in the region. 

In a statement, Kailash Vijayvargiya extended a warm welcome to Akshay Kanti Bam, the former Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Indore, as he joined the BJP. Vijayvargiya highlighted that Bam's decision to join the BJP was made under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party national president JP Nadda, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, and state president VD Sharma. This acknowledgment underscores the BJP's embrace of Bam and emphasises the leadership and direction provided by the party's top figures. 

April 29 marked the final day for nominations in Indore, which is scheduled to vote in the fourth phase of elections on May 13. District Collector Ashish Singh informed reporters that three candidates, including the Congress candidate Akshay Kanti Bam, withdrew their nominations on this day in accordance with the prescribed procedure. He also mentioned that the entire withdrawal process was recorded on video as per protocol. This update indicates a significant development in the electoral landscape of Indore ahead of the upcoming phase of voting. 

Accompanied by BJP MLA Ramesh Mendola, Akshay Bam visited the district collector's office to officially withdraw his candidacy. The Congress had nominated Mr. Bam, a first-time contender aged 45, to contest against the sitting BJP MP Shankar Lalwani in Indore, which boasts the largest electorate in Madhya Pradesh. The selection of Bam by the Congress came amidst a series of party members, including three former MLAs, defecting to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. 

Last week, the opposition party faced a setback in Gujarat's Surat constituency, where a series of dramatic events unfolded, leading to the disqualification of the Congress nominee and the subsequent withdrawal of eight candidates, including the BSP nominee and independents. Consequently, on April 22, the BJP's Mukesh Dalal was declared the uncontested winner for the Surat Lok Sabha constituency. Following this development, the Congress suffered its second setback, prompting local leaders in Indore to express their disappointment and question the leadership's decision to nominate Mr. Bam as their candidate. 

"I had cautioned our party leaders about Akshay Bam. I had warned them that he might withdraw his nomination. It's distressing for us, who have been dedicatedly serving the Congress for years, to see tickets being given to individuals like him," stated local Congress leader Devendra Singh Yadav. 

During the scrutiny of nominations, the BJP's legal cell had objected to Mr. Bam's nomination form, citing the omission of section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), pertaining to an attempt to murder case in a 17-year-old land dispute. However, poll officials dismissed the objection and accepted his nomination since the charge was added on the day he filed the nomination. 

Image source: NDTV