Ahmedabad, Nov 20: Independent candidate from Jamalpur Assembly seat Imtiyaz Devdiwala, son of deceased minority community leader Usmanghani Devdiwala, has withdrawn his nomination for the December one by-election to the seat and extended support to Congress, sources said here today. Imtiyaz, after being denied a Congress ticket, had filed his nomination as an independent akin to his father, who was pulled into the Congress after his victory as an independent during the assembly polls in December last year.
Gujarat Pradesh Congress (GPCC) president Shankersinh Vaghela said in a release that Imtiyaz had withdrawn his nomination yesterday in favour of Congress candidate Sabbir Abdul Karim Khedawala and would support him for the by-elections.
Eight candidates are left in fray for the by-elections, state election commission sources said.
On his decision to withdraw his candidature, Imtiyaz said he did not want the minority community votes to be divided and would support Sabbir.
Bureau Report