Published On : Mon, Feb 6th, 2017

NMC Poll Khol : Nagpur Nagarsevaks make dollars, not rupees!

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Nagpur: Can you believe our Nagarsevaks (Corporators) earned in dollars, if not, read this. The “miracle?”

Maharashtra is the first state in the country where the nomination process even for Panchayat polls is being completed online. The same online nomination system is being practiced for Municipal Corporation and Zilla Parishad elections. After the online nomination registration, the candidates have to file affidavits online as well. Of course, the printouts of the affidavits have to be taken out and get attested by Notary. However, this time the online system played truant in such a technical hitch that the earning details on candidates are being shown in US dollars instead of Indian rupees.

Candidates stunned but no objections so far:
Suppose a candidate, while filing affidavit, mentions he or she possesses Rs 10,000 in cash currently. But at the time of recording, the amount in the affidavit turned into US dollars in place of rupees. The net outcome of this “hitch” is that at the time of scrutiny of the affidavit, the candidate will come to know that he is in possession of Rs 7 lakh and not Rs 10,000! But the reality is exactly opposite. He or she has Rs 10,000 only. The affidavits of candidates contesting Nagpur Municipal Corporation election are on display at the website of State Election Commission. The affidavits are showing income details of the candidates in dollars.

Interestingly, the candidates took out the printouts of their affidavits, got attested by Notary and even submitted them to local election officer. But the error passed every “table” without being caught. Not even the hawk eyed lawyers and notaries could spot the “weird mistake.” Curiously, no candidate has so far registered his objection over the snag officially.

If affidavits are false, candidature is in doldrums!

In the year 2002, Supreme Court had made it mandatory for poll candidates to file affidavits. If false information is provided in the affidavits, then the nomination or election is annulled. Now, the million dollar question is: Will the State Election Commission declare the candidates contesting NMC poll ineligible as their affidavits are proving to be false due to “technical snag?”

Action against whom?
In this dicey situation all eyes are now focused on the steps the State Election Commission takes in this matter. Will the SEC cancel NMC elections altogether or correct the technical hitch or push forward the “Constitutional” crisis ahead?