Suvendu Adhikari seeks rejection of Mamata Banerjee's nomination for 'suppressing' information on criminal cases

Adhikari, a former confidante of Banerjee, claimed she suppressed the information about five cases filed against her in Assam and another case in West Bengal

BJP leader and candidate from the Nandigram Assembly seat against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari on Monday sought the rejection of the nomination of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo for not declaring that there were six criminal cases against her in her nomination papers.

“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the TMC candidate from Nandigram has not mentioned in her affidavit that there were six criminal cases against her which are currently under trial. Five of them are lodged in Assam and one is a case by the CBI,” said Adhikari.

Read | 'Opportunists' who gave promotions to officers responsible for Nandigram police firing have no right to seek votes: Suvendu

Speaking to reporters Adhikari also said that he appealed to the Election Commission to cancel Mamata’s nomination.

“I am hopeful that the Election Commission (EC) will take the required action. I will wait for their decision, It must be as per law,” said Adhikari.

According to sources in the office of the State’s Chief Electoral Officer, Adhikari did not elaborate in his complaint what offenses were allegedly committed by the Chief Minister.

“We are looking into the matter,” said a senior EC official.

The Supreme Court in a crucial ruling in March 2018 stated that a returning officer for an election can reject the nomination papers of a candidate on the grounds of suppressing information such as regarding the candidate’s assets and criminal background.

It also stated voters have a fundamental right to know about their candidates and leaving columns blank in nomination papers amounts to a violation of their right.