Do you remember this video? It went viral in April. It shows a Lok Sabha candidate in Gandhinagar sobbing and complaining that he was "hijacked" by "Amit Shah's people".
His name is Jitendra Chauhan. I tracked him down and a story began unfolding. @scroll_in. 1/10.
His name is Jitendra Chauhan. I tracked him down and a story began unfolding. @scroll_in. 1/10.
Chauhan runs a small painting business in Ahmedabad. This year, he decided to contest in the general elections.
But days after he filed his nomination, he came under pressure to withdraw. He told me it came from BJP MLA Dinesh Singh Kushwah (in pic) and Gujarat police. 2/10.
But days after he filed his nomination, he came under pressure to withdraw. He told me it came from BJP MLA Dinesh Singh Kushwah (in pic) and Gujarat police. 2/10.
Chauhan alleged he was also stalked and intimidated by Gujarat police officials who told him that 'politics is not your business'.
On April 22, Chauhan withdrew. "I have 3 daughters and I must look after them," he told me. 3/10.
More here:
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On April 22, Chauhan withdrew. "I have 3 daughters and I must look after them," he told me. 3/10.
More here:
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There's more. Sumitra Maurya, also fighting against Amit Shah in Gandhinagar, had a mob arrive at her house on April 20, when only her little daughters were home.
She told @scroll_in: "They asked them about my whereabouts and said they wanted to meet me and talk to me." 4/10.
She told @scroll_in: "They asked them about my whereabouts and said they wanted to meet me and talk to me." 4/10.
Next day, Maurya and her husband received dozens of calls from random numbers, asking them to back off from the #LokSabhaElection2024.
On April 21, they drove 400 kms away to Somnath for safety. But listen what happened to her there:
On April 21, they drove 400 kms away to Somnath for safety. But listen what happened to her there:
A total of 16 candidates have withdrawn from Gandhinagar so far. One of them is Jayendra Rathod, who fought on BSP ticket from the constituency in 2019.
Rathod contested as an independent this time. But he told @scroll_in that BJP leader Ashok Patel did not want that. 6/10.
Rathod contested as an independent this time. But he told @scroll_in that BJP leader Ashok Patel did not want that. 6/10.
Patel allegedly pressured Rathod's uncle, a government servant, to make him withdraw. Rathod withdrew.
Chauhan and Maurya are Kushwahs. Rathod a Dalit. BJP claims to speak for Hindus, especially lowered caste – but in Gandhinagar, it subdued candidates from these groups. 7/10.
Chauhan and Maurya are Kushwahs. Rathod a Dalit. BJP claims to speak for Hindus, especially lowered caste – but in Gandhinagar, it subdued candidates from these groups. 7/10.
The big question. Gandhinagar is a BJP citadel. So why does it deploy such tactics? The answer might lie in the party's election strategy in Gujarat.
According to Indian Express, its goal is to win each seat by a margin of 5 lakh votes. 8/10.
indianexpress.com
According to Indian Express, its goal is to win each seat by a margin of 5 lakh votes. 8/10.
indianexpress.com
And support independent journalism. Become a @scroll_in member. That is what keeps us going. 10/10.
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