AAP Alleges Hooliganism By BJP As 'Missing' Candidate Returns, Withdraws Nomination

The AAP has alleged that the BJP is indulging in hooliganism ahead of the Gujarat polls after its missing candidate withdrew his nomination after returning.

AAP's 'missing' Surat East candidate, Kanchan Jariwala, for the Gujarat Elections withdrew his nomination. ( Image Source :Twitter | @raghav_chadha )

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided to knock on the doors of the Central Election Commission after its missing Surat East candidate, Kanchan Jariwala, for the Gujarat Elections withdrew his nomination. The party has accused the BJP of using its muscle power to force candidates to withdraw their nominations, adding that the term free and fair elections has become a joke.

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia informed that he is going to Central Election Commission Office alleging that forcefully nominations are being withdrawn and what is the point of election then. He said," Candidate was kidnapped, was made to withdraw nomination on gunpoint. What could be a bigger emergency than this for the EC?"

कैंडिडेट का अपहरण हो गया. गनपोईंट पर उसका नामांकन वापस कराया. चुनाव आयोग के लिए इससे बड़ी एमेरजेंसी क्या हो सकतो है? इसीलिए तुरंत एक्शन की प्रार्थना लेकर हम लोग केंद्रीय चुनाव आयोग के दरवाज़े पर आए हैं. https://t.co/AsC2tILO67

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) November 16, 2022

Reacting to this, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that this kind of 'hooliganism' was never seen in India and this means that democracy is finished in the country. Taking to twitter he said, "This kind of open hooliganish was never witnessed in India as nominations are being forcefully withdrawn using goons and police." 

"What is the point of election then?," he asked.

गुंडों और पुलिस के दम पर उम्मीदवारों को अगवा करके उनका नामांकन वापिस करवाया जा रहा है।

इस क़िस्म की सरेआम गुंडागर्दी भारत में कभी नहीं देखी गयी। फिर चुनाव का क्या मतलब रह गया? फिर तो जनतंत्र ख़त्म है। https://t.co/wff4CMihx8

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 16, 2022

Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi IT Cell Incharge Pankaj Nagpal tweeted some photographs of the alleged kidnapping of AAP's Surat East candidate Kanchan Jariwala.

Pic 1- AAP candidate being kidnapped
Pic 2- One of the kidnapper
Pic 3- Kidnapper with BJP leader Ravi
Pic 4- BJP leader Ravi with BJP CM and Ex Minister

This makes it clear;
BJP goons kidnapped @AAPGujarat candidate!! pic.twitter.com/FNB2QLbJUM

— Pankaj Nagpal#Media Incharge,AAP Delhi SM IT-CELL (@studioyashlab) November 16, 2022

Earlier in the day, AAP MP Raghav Chadha addressed a press conference elborating on the said kidnapping of its candidate. He said, "Local BJP goons first pressurised Kanchan Jariwala to withdraw nomination. When he denied the same, he was forcefully taken to the office of the returning officer.” He added, “When all the documents of Jariwala ji were found to be correct, the BJP goons took him to an undisclosed location.” 

Murder of democracy!

Our candidate Kanchan Jariwala from Surat East seat has been kidnapped by BJP.

First BJP unsuccessfully tried to get his nomination papers rejected, then coerced him to withdraw his candidature and now kidnapped him. He is missing since last afternoon. pic.twitter.com/SWpOEjSG59

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) November 16, 2022

Addressing the press on the same issue, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said, "BJP has kidnapped our candidate from Surat (East) from Gujarat, Kanchan Jariwala. He was last seen at the RO office yesterday. They tried to get his nomination rejected. Later, he was pressurised to withdraw his nomination. This raises questions on EC."

BJP has kidnapped our candidate from Surat (East) from Gujarat, Kanchan Jariwala. He was last seen at the RO office yesterday. They tried to get his nomination rejected. Later, he was pressurised to withdraw his nomination. This raises questions on EC: AAP leader Manish Sisodia pic.twitter.com/g593SN9KXN

— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2022

Gujarat is scheduled to go to polls on December 1 and 5 while the counting will take place on December 8.