Vikram Madam, two-time Congress MP from Gujarat, has 'conceded defeat'

A Congress candidate in Gujarat has conceded defeat even before the verdict of the national election on May 16, embarrassing the party in Narendra Modi's state.Vikram Madam, 56, a two-time Congress MP from Jamnagar in Gujarat, declared on Thursday that he would lose to his BJP rival, who happens to be his niece Poonam Madam.Gujarat voted on Wednesday in the seventh round of the staggered nine-phase election.Just a day after polling, Mr Madam called journalists in Saurashtra to announce that he was losing by "30,000 votes" and even appealed to his supporters not to bet on poll results."I am a realistic person and don't believe in running away from reality," he said.His niece Poonam was a Congress legislator but the BJP was able to bring her on board just before the 2012 state polls in Gujarat, on the promise that she would challenge her uncle, who has been winning from Jamnagar since 2004.

Jamnagar recorded 57.42 per cent polling on Wednesday and was considered a safe seat for the Congress.Some Congress leaders say Vikram Madam's own party workers had worked hard to ensure his defeat.