The Returning Officer rejected the Congress’ objection to nomination papers filed by the BJP’s official candidate Sangeetha R. Nayak for the Mangaluru City Coporation council polls.
Ms. Nayak is contesting from ward No. 19 (Pachchanady) reserved for Backward Class (A) category.
She filed the nomination after securing a certificate from the tahsildar, Mangaluru, on October 24 stating that she was a Muslim and belonged to the Backward Class (A) category.
Objection filed
On Saturday, the general secretary of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee, Shahul Hameed, filed an objection before the Returning Officer that Ms. Nayak had secured a decree from the III Additional Civil Judge and JMFC on April 17, 2017, changing her name from ‘Ishrath Begum’ and religion ‘Muslim’ to ‘Sangeetha R. Nayak’ and ‘Hindu’, respectively.
As she has changed her religion, Ms. Nayak cannot contest from the ward reserved for the Backward Class (A) category, Mr. Hameed contended.
Turning down the objection, the Returning Officer said Ms. Nayak had produced the caste certificate issued by the tahsildar. It was beyond the purview of the Returning Officer to look into the veracity of the certificate and hence, the aggrieved party could take it up with the appropriate Appellate Authority.
Documents in order
As all the documents submitted by Ms. Nayak were in order, her nomination was accepted, the Returning Officer said.
Questioning the decision of the Returning Officer, the DCC spokesperson and Ivan D’Souza, MLC, said at a press conference on Saturday that the the officer should have taken note of the party’s contention and rejected Ms. Nayak’s nomination.
Former Mayor Kavita Sanil, who won from the ward in the earlier council election, said the BJP has kept the electorate in the dark about Ms. Nayak’s change of religion from ‘Muslim’ to ‘Hindu’. By allowing Ms. Nayak to contest, the BJP has denied chance for a Backward Class (A) category person to contest from the ward,” she alleged.
Mr. D’Souza and Ms. Sanil said they will take up the issue with the State Election Commission and the Karnataka High Court.
