Congress to move EC against BJP nominee over I-T returns

SHIMLA

: Himachal

Pradesh Congress Committee

president Kuldeep Singh Rathore has alleged that BJP candidate from Mandi constituency

Ram Swaroop Sharma

had failed to file his income-tax returns for the past three years and filed the returns just before filing his nomination papers.


Addressing mediapersons in Shimla on Wednesday, Rathore said not filing I-T returns for three years is a violation of I-T laws and Congress will lodge a complaint against Sharma with the Election Commission (EC).

Rathore said, "It is surprising how the income-tax department gave him relaxation, accepted his returns and processed it in three days."

He said the entire matter would be placed before the EC and once it takes a decision, Congress will decide its future course of action. He said it is irresponsible of Sharma to state before the I-T department in his affidavit that he could not file the returns as he was busy being a public servant.

He said it is quite surprising that I-T department not only processed the returns of the BJP candidate in three days, but also issued him an NOC. He said Congress would take further action on this issue after taking legal opinion.

He said former MP of Hamirpur

Suresh Chandel

has been appointed as the co-convener of the election campaign. He said Chandel had remained three-time MP and has vast political experience and Congress will take benefit from his experience.

He also hinted that in the coming days, some more BJP leaders might join the Congress.