Guwahati: The political landscape of the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency in Assam witnessed a significant development as the nomination papers of sitting MP Naba Kumar Sarania, representing the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP), were cancelled by the Returning Officer (RO) after a meticulous scrutiny process.
RO Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi disclosed on April 21 that out of 16 nominations filed on April 19, only 15 were found to be valid, while Sarania’s nomination was deemed defective and subsequently nullified. This development unfolded just ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections scheduled for May 7, injecting a new dimension into the electoral dynamics of the region.
The cancellation of Sarania’s nomination follows a recent High Court verdict, which rendered him ineligible to contest from any constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs). Despite this legal setback, Sarania had proceeded with filing his nomination papers before the RO Kokrajhar on April 19, expressing optimism regarding the outcome.
The ruling stemmed from a legal battle concerning Sarania’s tribal identity. A single-judge Bench of Justice S.K. Medhi, on April 18, ruled against Sarania’s claim of belonging to the Kachari community after the State Level Scrutiny Committee invalidated his ST certificate issued on October 17, 2011. This decision underscored the complexities surrounding tribal identity and eligibility criteria for electoral representation in the region.
In response to the cancellation of his nomination, Sarania conveyed his respect for the judicial process while expressing disappointment over the outcome. He reiterated his commitment to pursuing legal recourse, indicating plans to appeal the ruling and explore all available avenues to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, RO Dwivedi reiterated that the deadline for the withdrawal of nomination papers is April 22, further intensifying the political manoeuvres and strategies in the run-up to the elections.
The cancellation of Naba Kumar Sarania’s nomination adds a layer of intrigue to the electoral narrative of Kokrajhar, setting the stage for a fiercely contested battle for representation in the Lok Sabha. BJP is supporting NDA alliance UPPL candidate in the constituency while Opposition Congress and BPF have fielded their own candidates.
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