An innoucuous mistake by Congress candidates for the Council elections might cost them dearly.
On Saturday, the returning officer for the Council polls from Legislative Assembly constituency withheld the nomination papers of four candidates - two from Congress, one JD(S) and an independent candidate for not submitting sworn affidavits on Rs 50 stamp paper as prescribed by the Election Commission of India.
Assembly secretary Omprakash, who is the returning officer, will take a final decision on whether to accept the nominations only after hearing out all the parties concerned. He has, however, ruled that all six nominations of BJP and two nominations of Congress as valid. Mr Iqbal Ahamed Saradagi of Congress, Afsar Agha of JD(S) and independent candidate Bhairathi Suresh had filed their nomination papers on Rs 20 stamp paper to which BJP raised objection. The ruling party also raised the office-of-profit clause to seek the rejection of nomination of the other Congress candidate K. Govindaraju. The BJP maintained that Mr Govindaraju was holding the post of president of KOA.
Mr Omprakash has directed all parties concerned to be present at the hearing on Monday. Interestingly, it was the Congress which raised objection to the affidavit of the JD(S) candidate. However, during scrutiny, it was found that one of its own candidates had also filed the affidavit on Rs 20 stamp paper after which BJP raised objection to both nominations. Not required: ECI Election Commission of India sources said that though the Commission issued a notification that candidates contesting the Council election should use stamp paper of Rs 50 denomination for sworn affidavits, the Karnataka Stamp Act, which was amended in 2000, allows Rs 20 stamp paper for sworn affidavits.