India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday secured its first victory in the ongoing general elections, dubbed as the largest ever democratic exercise in human history, even though there was no opposition candidate in the concerned constituency.

BJP candidate from Gujarat state's Surat constituency won uncontested, state chief minister Bhupendra Patel said, according to Hindustan Times. The victory came after the nomination papers of the main opposition Congress candidates had been rejected on dubious grounds, and other candidates had withdrawn their nominations.

On the final day of nomination form withdrawals, a total of eight candidates, predominantly independents opted to withdraw their nominations.

The nomination papers of Nilesh Kumbhani, the Congress candidate for the Surat Lok Sabha seat, were rejected on Sunday after his three supporting voters said the sign on the papers was not theirs.

Similarly, the nomination form of Suresh Padsala, the alternate Congress candidate from Surat, met a similar fate, effectively sidelining the main opposition party from the city's electoral race.

According to India’s election nomination rules, a candidate endorsed by a recognised political party needs at least one voter from the concerned constituency to propose their candidacy.

Congress has said they would pursue the matter at the high court.

Voting for other seats in Gujarat will be held on 7 May during the third phase of the 2024 general elections. The result will be announced on 4 June.