Calcutta High Court Rejects Congress Challenge Over BJP Candidate’s Age Discrepancy in Nandigram Bye-Poll

The Calcutta High Court has put an end to a petition lodged by the West Bengal Congress party that sought to challenge discrepancies in the election affidavit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Nandigram bye-poll, Hasirani Rath. The case raised eyebrows particularly regarding her stated age in relation to her educational qualifications, as reported by Live Law.

The crux of the Congress party’s allegations revolved around Rath’s age declaration, which she noted as “60+ years” but failed to provide an exact date of birth. The educational credentials she provided state that she completed her Class 10 examinations in 1965. Given the current year and her declared age, this raised questions about the authenticity of her educational claims. If Rath is to be taken at her word regarding her age, it would suggest that she was a mere child, between four to nine years old, at the time she claims to have completed her secondary education.

The Congress party contended that these inconsistencies warranted a deeper examination, arguing that such discrepancies could mislead voters and challenge the integrity of the electoral process. They called for a thorough investigation into the nomination papers submitted by Rath to ensure that the Election Commission and the returning officer had conducted due diligence before allowing her candidacy.

During the court proceedings, the Congress representative made it clear that the party was not seeking the cancellation of Rath’s nomination nor looking to postpone the elections. Instead, their primary goal was to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. The Election Commission responded robustly against the petition, asserting that all appropriate checks had been carried out, and thus, no legal grounds existed for the court to intervene.

This legal decision comes at a crucial time as political parties gear up for the bye-elections in West Bengal, an area known for its politically charged landscape. As the political rivalry intensifies, issues regarding candidate eligibility and transparency remain at the forefront of voter concerns. The dismissal of this petition reflects the court’s stance on not intervening in electoral matters without substantial evidence of wrongdoing.

Source: scroll.in