The selective outrage is amusing.
During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Returning Officer in Birbhum rejected the nomination of BJP’s candidate, a former IPS officer, over a No Dues Certificate that had to be issued by Mamata Banerjee’s government. He approached the Supreme Court. The petition was dismissed. BJP had to field a replacement candidate at the last minute.
In Basirhat, however, the Returning Officer accepted the nomination of the TMC candidate even though most fields in his form were marked “NA” and he too had not submitted a No Dues Certificate despite being a former MP. His nomination sailed through.
BJP challenged the matter through an election petition in the High Court. The case is now before the Supreme Court.
Curiously, the same voices now lamenting the lack of an immediate remedy were nowhere to be seen then. No accusations of Mamata Banerjee influencing district administrations. No claims of the ECI acting in concert with the ruling party.
The legal position was the same then as it is now.
Of course, it helps explain the sudden concern when the complainant’s wife is a TMC MP and he himself appears to be aspiring for a Rajya Sabha berth.
IMPORTANT: SC dismisses Meenakshi Natarajan plea on rejection of her RS nomination, says she must file election petition in HC. A petition like this will take minimum 2-3 years , followed by appeal by which the RS term will be over!@ECISVEEP will take hands-off approach saying matter is sub judice! Net net: a returning officer can act in a prima facie arbitrary manner to disqualify a candidate with no immediate legal remedy. What a ‘masterstroke’!🙏