In New Delhi, India, Prince Patel decided to forego his vacation plans upon learning the dates for India’s ongoing weeks-long elections. The 61-year-old retired engineer eagerly awaited the opportunity to cast his vote in Surat, the diamond hub of India located in the state of Gujarat. His intention was clear – to express his dissatisfaction with the current government’s policies.
However, on the scheduled voting day of May 7, Surat was left without any polling booths, much to Patel’s dismay. The Election Commission of India had already declared the seat in favor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after disqualifying the opposition Congress party’s candidate and five others, leaving only eight candidates who eventually withdrew.
Patel, who had previously supported the BJP in 2014, had now become disillusioned with the government due to rising unemployment and prices. This sentiment was echoed in recent opinion polls, leading Patel to express his frustration by stating, “I would rather vote for a pigeon than choose the BJP.”
Surat’s situation is not unique, as similar occurrences are taking place in various constituencies across India. Opposition candidates are either withdrawing from the race, joining the BJP, or alleging threats to their safety. Despite the BJP’s denial of any wrongdoing, opposition candidates argue that these incidents highlight an unfair political landscape.
Vijay Lohar, a candidate from the Bahujan Republican Socialist Party, had his nomination rejected by election authorities, leading him to question the integrity of the process. He remarked, “The BJP is the referee of this game. Where should I complain?”
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Link from www.aljazeera.com