Should BJP's Call to Reject Congress Candidate's Nomination Papers Be Taken Seriously?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BJP's complaint against Congress candidate.
- Allegations of concealing criminal history.
- Electoral integrity is at stake.
- Legal actions sought by the BJP.
- Importance of transparency in politics.
Bhubaneswar, Oct 21 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission on Tuesday, targeting Ghasiram Majhi, the Congress candidate for the forthcoming Nuapada by-election. They are urging the rejection of his nomination papers on the grounds of allegedly hiding his criminal history in the affidavit submitted to the electoral body.
BJP insiders revealed that during the 2024 general elections, Majhi had acknowledged the existence of two cases pending against him at the Nuapada police station.
However, the BJP contends that in the affidavit presented for the current by-election, Majhi failed to disclose these two ongoing cases.
Both cases remain unresolved in the court of the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate in Nuapada.
The BJP delegation further asserted that Majhi intentionally omitted these pending cases in the affidavit, which constitutes a cognizable offence under Section 125(A) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
As a result, the BJP has urged the State Election Commission to take strict legal action against him and invalidate his nomination papers.
Odisha BJP Vice-President Jatin Mohanty commented on the matter, stating that the leaders of Congress lack a genuine understanding of constitutional values, particularly as their own party exhibits a lack of internal democracy.
“The current Congress party has completely deviated from its foundational principles. The public has rejected the party's ideologies and methods. It has turned into a refuge for criminal and anti-social individuals, who do not hesitate to obscure their illicit activities. This is glaringly evident in the Nuapada by-election, where candidate Ghasiram Majhi has obscured his criminal record in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission,” Mohanty articulated.
The senior BJP figure characterized this act of concealing a criminal record by the Congress candidate as a serious and intolerable offense.