Scrutiny of the nomination papers of Congress nominees in two different Assembly constituencies in Kolar district was kept in abeyance today for various reasons.
The Returning Officer of Mulbagal (SC) constituency on Wednesday withheld the scrutiny of nomination papers of Congress nominee G. Manjunath following a High Court order which stated he (Mr. Manjunath) does not belong to the Beda Jangama community under Scheduled Caste category.
The Returning Officer kept in abeyance the scrutiny of papers as orders of the High Court were yet to arrive. Mr. Manjunath’s papers are likely to be rejected once the official copy of the orders reaches the officer.
Mr. Manjunath contested from Mulbagal seat in the 2013 Assembly elections submitting a Beda Jangama certificate and he won the elections. However, a number of people and Dalit outfits questioned the authenticity of Mr. Manjunath’s claim and they argued that he belongs to Byragi, a backward community. A number of protests and agitations were held in the district demanding disqualification of Mr. Manjunath for submitting a fake caste certificate and misusing the facility of the Scheduled Caste community. The opponents also charged Mr. Manjunath with misusing the Constitution.
The issue was taken to the court and after prolonged deliberations, the High Court of Karnataka announced the judgment on Wednesday.
The District Electoral Officer, Returning Officer and the Election Commission officials are engaged in deliberations in connection with the scrutiny of the papers of Mr. Manjunath.
Mr. Manjunath filed papers as an Independent candidate from Kolar, which is a general seat, on the last day of the process on Tuesday anticipating that his papers may be rejected in Mulbagal seat if the court verdict was unfavourable.
Anticipating the same development, senior Congress leader and MP K.H. Muniyappa fielded his second daughter M. Nandini as an Independent candidate from Mulbagal seat on Tuesday.
Roopakala’s nomination in limbo
In another development, scrutiny of the nomination papers of M. Roopakala, first daughter of Mr. Muniyappa, who filed her papers from Kolar Gold Fields (KGF-SC) seat as a Congress nominee, was also withheld by the officials following a complaint.
The scrutiny was postponed in view of a complaint lodged by Janata Dal (Secular) candidate M. Bhaktavatsalam in which he alleged that Ms. Roopakala’s name figures in two places, i.e. KGF and Tumakuru constituencies.
