265 candidates gear up for polls in state

With the Lok Sabha general elections looming, 265 candidates from Gujarat are gearing up to contest across 25 of the 26 parliamentary constituencies in the state. The Election Commission of India (ECI) revealed that 433 candidates initially submitted nomination forms for the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat. However, after scrutiny, 328 candidates were deemed eligible to vie for electoral victory.

As the deadline for withdrawal of candidatures loomed on Monday, the number of contenders decreased further, with 63 candidates opting to withdraw their nominations. The BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal'was declared' unopposed winner from the Surat Lok Sabha seat after Congress candidate Nilesh Kumbhani' was disqualified' and eight others, including the BSP candidate, withdrew their nominations on Monday.

This'leaves 265 candidates in the electoral fray, except the Surat Lok Sabha seat, where BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal was declared elected unopposed following the rejection of the Congress candidate's nomination and the withdrawal of other contenders.

Of the 265 candidates, 246 are male, while 19 are female, reflecting a gender imbalance in the electoral landscape. The Ahmedabad West Lok Sabha seat'is set'to witness a crowded contest, with 18 candidates vying for victory, prompting the deployment of two ballot units. In contrast, the Bardoli Constituency will witness a more modest competition, with just three candidates for the running.

Of the 265 candidates, 246 are male while 19 are female, reflecting a gender imbalance

Monday marked the culmination of the withdrawal process, with 11 constituencies witnessing no withdrawal of nomination forms. These constituencies include Kutch, Mehsana, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Amreli, Kheda, Anand, Dahod, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Bardoli, and Valsad, underscoring the steadfast resolve of candidates in these regions.

In addition to the Lok Sabha elections,'by-elections for five assembly seats will'also'be conducted'concurrently.