Poll panel rejects BJP’s complaint against Kamal Nath

Bhopal: The state poll panel has rejected the BJP’s demand to cancel chief minister Kamal Nath’s candidature for the assembly bypoll. The BJP leaders had alleged that the chief minister had concealed information regarding the FIR filed against him and had even submitted a copy of the FIR against Nath and other Congress leaders along with affidavit submitted by Nath to the EC.

Earlier, BJP leaders had raised objection over the same issue with the district election officer of Chhindwara, who is also the returning officer for Chhindwara assembly constituency where bypoll is scheduled to be held on April 29. However, the district collector of Chhindwara rejected the objections on Wednesday. “The issue has been resolved and the objections have been rejected. The content of the affidavit can be an issue for a writ petition, but not for cancellation of the candidature,” Chhindwara collector Shriniwas Sharma told TOI.

A delegation of BJP leaders, including convener of BJP’s legal cell Shanti Lal Lodha, BJP state vice president Vijesh Lunawat and spokesperson Rahul Kothari made a representation at the office of the chief electoral officer on Wednesday regarding the complaint filed earlier with the district election officer of Chhindwara.

In their complaint, they said, “This is in reference to the nomination paper submitted by Kamal Nath from the Chhindwara constituency. Kamal Nath has not disclosed relevant and substantial information in the nomination paper in violation to the provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 and as such, a complaint/objection under section 36 of the Act of 1951 has been made with the returning officer of Chhindwara constituency. However, it is apprehended that the returning officer will not take any action against Kamal Nath under pressure because he is the chief minister of

Madhya Pradesh

. It is apparent that Kamal Nath has deliberately concealed substantial information related to his criminal antecedents in the nomination paper, that FIR No. 176/2018 is registered at police station Shyamla Hills, Bhopal under section 465, 468, 469, 471, 472, 474 and 120-B of Indian Penal Code against him, as is mandatory as per the norms of nomination paper, provisions of Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 and instructions issued by Election Commission of India.”