BJP urges EC to nix Mala Roy, Haji Nurul’s nominations
Times of India | 16 May 2024
Kolkata: Bengal BJP on Wednesday moved the Election Commission, seeking cancellation of the nominations of the Trinamool’s Basirhat and Kolkata South candidates — Haji Nurul Islam and Mala Roy. BJP claimed that Islam’s nomination should be cancelled on the grounds of non-submission of no dues certificate and that Roy had violated the office of profit clause.TMC rubbished the claims, saying BJP had oversimplified “technical issues”.
Late on Wednesday, EC accepted both nominations. BJP alleged that Islam was using govt accommodation and official telephone connection as a former MP. “The period under review does not exceed the statutory period of 10 years. The no dues certificate had to be mandatorily furnished by the candidate,” Bengal BJP general secretary Jagannath Chattopadhyay said.
“The ECI has earlier cancelled the nomination of Debashis Dhar from Birbhum. Islam’s candidature should be cancelled on the same ground,” he added.
In the complaint, BJP’s Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra alleged that Islam had furnished a false statement and written “not applicable” in the no-dues certificate column. Reacting to this, Islam said: “There are several disputes with Patra’s nomination. Considering that, she could not have been allowed to contest polls. There was no dispute in any nomination I had filed this time or even earlier. This is a conspiracy against me.”
BJP raised questions on Roy’s affidavit and claimed that she had been holding an office of profit as the chairperson Kolkata Municipal Corporation. “I have not taken any honorarium since May 2019 and that can be corroborated. I have used an office of the corporation, but that does not call for disqualification as this is an autonomous body. I can sit in the office and drink a glass of water, but that does not violate constitutional provision,” Roy said.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said: “These are technical issues. This cannot be oversimplified in the manner which they (BJP) have attempted to. These are also indications of desperations. Our two candidates will be the next MPs.”