Shiv Sena’s candidate from Ramtek seat Ashish Jaiswal has raised objection to nomination of both the BJP candidates on the ground that they are authorized Government contractors
Nagpur: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to face a major embarrassment if two candidates of the party are debarred from contesting the October 15 Assembly elections by Election Commission. The candidature of Sonba Musle from Saoner and D Mallikarjun Reddy from Ramtek could be in peril as Shiv Sena’s candidate from Ramtek seat Ashish Jaiswal has raised objection to nomination of both the candidates on the ground that they are authorized Government contractors. If the objection of Ashish Jaiswal is upheld by election authorities, a major jolt stares the face of BJP.
BJP has given Sonba Musle the ticket from Saoner while Mallikarjun Reddy, who deserted NCP recently, has bagged the candidature from Ramtek. Reddy is giving a fight to Shiv Sena’s Ashish Jaiswal. Ironically, Redy had contested the Assembly elections in the past, too.
According to Ashish Jaiswal, Reddy is authorized contractor of Maharashtra Government and deals in Public Works Department and Water Resource Department as well. Reddy is still carrying out Government contracts and has already completed Government works to the tune of Rs 20 crore in Ramtek Assembly constituency. On the other hand, Sonba Musle is also Government contractor. And according to the Representation of the People Act and Indian Constitution, Government contractors cannot contest elections, said Jaiswal in his objection and claimed that the membership of a People’s Representative from Andhra Pradesh was cancelled by Supreme Court on the ground that he was Government contractor.
Now, if the candidature of both Musle and Reddy is found invalid, fight for Ashish Jaiswal and Sunil Kedar would be easy one in the absence of BJP candidates.
By :- Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha
