AAP Candidate From Surat East 'Missing', Party Says BJP Behind 'Kidnapping'

The Aam Aadmi Party alleged that BJP goons first tried to force Kanchan Jariwala to withdraw his nomination and when he denied, he was taken to an undisclosed location.

Raghav Chadha alleged that BJP first unsuccessfully tried to get his nomination papers rejected, then coerced him to withdraw.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday accused BJP of "kidnapping" its Surat East candidate Kanchan Jariwala. Addressing a press conference, AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that first BJP unsuccessfully tried to get his nomination papers rejected, then coerced him to withdraw his candidature and now kidnapped him.  

The party said that its candidate is missing from Tuesday afternoon. 

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

Chadha said, “Local BJP goons first pressurised Kanchan Jariwala to withdraw the 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.” 

Raghav Chadha further elaborated,” Kanchan Jariwala’s phone is switched off from 1 PM yesterday and he is being psychologically, physically and emotionally pressurised to withdraw his nomination from the election.” 

“When the Indian democracy is readying to celebrate its biggest festival, the elections, the BJP is so frightened of Aam Admi Party and Arvind Kejriwal that today they have kidnapped our Surat East candidate. If this is not Jungle Raj, then what is?” he said while asserting that the party is in touch with Election Commission and police to act over this incident 

Accusing the BJP of kidnapping, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said that Kanchan Jariwala was last seen at the RO office on Tuesday.  

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

“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, as quoted by ANI. 

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