In a major setback to the Congress, its Jamnagar candidate and sitting MP Vikram Madam accepted defeat, a fortnight before the results of the 2014 general elections.
Vikram Madam contested the lok Sabha elections from the coastal Jamnagar constituency against his niece Poonam Madam, who is also a sitting BJP MlA from Khambhalia Assembly segment.Talking to reporters, the Jamnagar MP admitted that he expects to lose the elections by at least 20,000 votes against the BJP candidate.The Madam family in Jamnagar is known for its political influence. Vikram’s elder brother and Poonam’s father, late Hemant Madam was Jamnagar’s Mayor and Congress MlA.
“After, Poonam decided to contest the lok Sabha elections against her uncle, the split within the family surfaced and as a result of it, Vikram’s hold over his own constituency diminished,” said a close aide of the Madam family. “I am not dejected. I am accepting the reality. There is no need for principles in this society, which is full of selfish people. Perhaps, this is the reason why I am not fit for this society. I thank all my party workers from the bottom of my heart. I am also grateful to those who voted for me,” said Madam, who won from the seat in the 2004 and 2009 lok Sabha elections.
Despite, Madam’s acceptance of defeat, Gujarat Congress still believes that it will retain the Jamnagar seat in 2014 too. Talking to The Pioneer, Gujarat Congress spokesman Manish Doshi said it was an assessment done by an individual, but the party is hopeful of winning the Jamnagar seat yet again.
“Our party workers have worked really hard across the State and we will win more seats than we did in the previous general elections,” said Doshi.Reacting to Madam’s acceptance of defeat, Gujarat BJP general secretary Vijay Rupani said: “Vikram is a frank person and he accepted the ground reality candidly. Other Congress candidates will follow him on May 16 after results are declared.”
This is perhaps, for the first time ever in the electoral history of Gujarat, that a Congress candidate contesting lok Sabha elections accepted defeat immediately after polling and before declaration of results.