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Journalism of Courage
Expelled Congress leader Rajkumar Patel on Wednesday withdrew from the Lok Sabha poll as an independent candidate in Vidisha, where BJP’s Sushma Swaraj is contesting against Congress candidate Laxman Singh, the younger brother of former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh.
Patel, a former minister, filed his nomination as an Independent hoping the division of Congress votes will force the party to revoke his expulsion. Patel had earned the party wrath when his nomination as a Congress candidate against Sushma Swaraj in 2009 was rejected amid allegations that he had struck a deal. He said he withdrew from the race at the behest of Congress leaders.
When asked whether the withdrawal was conditional, he said, “When my nomination was rejected in 2009 my integrity was questioned. Now that I have withdrawn it I am again being accused of making a deal. I am the innocent sufferer.’’
