Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Indore Congress candidate withdraws nomination; joins BJP

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

In a significant setback for the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Akshay Kanti Bam, its candidate for the Indore Lok Sabha seat, withdrew his nomination just a fortnight before polling in the constituency. After withdrawing his nomination, Bam made his way to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office.

A photo released by the BJP on social media showed Bam alongside MP Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, state cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, and other party leaders, indicating his intention to join the BJP.

इंदौर से कांग्रेस के लोकसभा प्रत्याशी श्री अक्षय कांति बम जी का माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी, राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष श्री @JPNadda जी, मुख्यमंत्री @DrMohanYadav51 जी व प्रदेश अध्यक्ष श्री @vdsharmabjp जी के नेतृत्व में भाजपा में स्वागत है। pic.twitter.com/1isbdLXphb

— Kailash Vijayvargiya (Modi Ka Parivar) (@KailashOnline) April 29, 2024

Monday marked the last day for withdrawal of nominations in the Indore Lok Sabha seat, where polling is scheduled for May 13. Indore Collector Ashish Singh confirmed Bam’s withdrawal of nomination.

Accompanied by local BJP MLA Ramesh Mendola, Bam reached the collector’s office to withdraw his papers. On his way back, he left in a car with Mendola, ignoring questions from mediapersons. Mendola, a trusted associate of Vijayvargiya, was with Bam during the withdrawal.

Collector Singh stated, ”Three candidates, including Congress’ Bam, withdrew their nominations today as per the due procedure. The process has also been videographed.”

Vijayvargiya welcomed Bam to the BJP, stating, “Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Indore, Akshay Kanti Bam, is welcome to the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party national president JP Nadda, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, and state president VD Sharma.”

Meanwhile, police have been deployed outside Bam’s residence in Patrakar Colony, as local Congress leaders started gathering outside his house.

The Congress had fielded Bam (45), a newcomer in the political arena, against sitting BJP MP Shankar Lalwani (62) from the Indore Lok Sabha seat, which is a stronghold of the saffron party. Bam has not contested any election in his political career so far. The Congress offered him the opportunity to contest from Indore at a time when several party workers, including three former MLAs, have switched sides and joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Indore, the largest constituency in the state in terms of the number of voters, has 25.13 lakh electors. The BJP has expressed confidence in winning the seat by a margin of eight lakh votes this time.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow