Congress moved all 44 of its candidates to a secure base in Gandhinagar after the nomination process ended, citing alleged coercive phone calls to family members, the party said. The relocation was announced on Thursday by spokesperson Pramod Kumar, who said the move was necessary to safeguard the candidates from political pressure and potential poaching.
BJP spokesperson Arjun Taneja slammed the move as an unnecessary show of weakness. He questioned why Congress would need to shield its own candidates, adding that the party had no trust in its own ranks.
The municipal polls in Gandhinagar will take place on October 11, with vote counting set for October 13. The election commission has declared all BJP and Congress nominations valid, while one Aam Aadmi Party nomination was rejected. Sonal Patel, wife of candidate Nitin Patel, said she received a threatening call from an unknown number last week, which she described as intimidation.
The withdrawal deadline of September 29 will finalize the list of candidates. Observers warn that the tense atmosphere could see more intimidation, and the election commission will monitor any violations.