Surat: The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) election entered a decisive phase after the final day for withdrawal of nominations, with the electoral field now clear. A total of 483 candidates will contest for 120 seats across 30 wards in the city.Scrutiny of nomination forms and the withdrawal process has been completed. Voting will be on April 26.Initially, 1,059 candidates had filed nomination papers for the 30 wards. Of these, 561 forms were rejected during scrutiny. On the final day of withdrawal, 16 candidates pulled out, leaving 483 in the fray.The BJP has fielded 120 nominees, the Indian National Congress 117 and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 111. Independents and candidates from other parties make up 135 contestants.With the publication of the final list, the contest across all 30 wards has become clear and campaigning is expected to intensify.The authorities said preparations are underway to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling in line with election commission guidelines. Security and administrative arrangements have been strengthened and strict compliance with the model code of conduct is being enforced.Key withdrawals stir buzzAmong the notable withdrawals was that of BJP candidate Bharat Shamla from Kamrej taluka panchayat Seat 2. Sources said Shamla withdrew his nomination after protests by tribal political workers over his tribal status.The issue stems from long-standing disputes over the grant of Scheduled Tribe status to certain communities living in the Gir forest region of Saurashtra, a matter that triggered agitations in the past.Another withdrawal that drew attention was that of Congress candidate Bony Patel from Surat’s Ward 1 (Jahangirpura, Variav, Chhaprabhatha and Kosad). Patel reportedly arrived at the election office without informing party leaders and left immediately after submitting his withdrawal application.Congress leaders later shared videos alleging that Patel was seen leaving the premises in haste. The party staged a protest at the district collector’s office over the development.In another case, Congress candidate Sanjay Ramanandi withdrew his nomination from Ward 18 (Limbayat-Parvat-Kumbhariya).In the taluka panchayat elections in Surat district, the Congress suspended its taluka president Ashok Patel and his wife, Sangita Patel, for six years after both withdrew their nominations. The couple had been contesting from Khudsad and Saroli seats in Olpad taluka panchayat respectively.
