The BJP candidate for the Pandabeswar Assembly seat in West Burdwan has petitioned the returning officer and the Election Commission of India, seeking cancellation of the candidature of Trinamul Congress nominee Narendranath Chakraborty. The BJP has alleged that he violated constitutional provisions relating to “office of profit”, as well as certain sections of the Representation of the People Act, 1959.
Jitendra Tiwari, the BJP candidate, alleged that Chakraborty had concealed positions such as Chairman of the Asansol Mines Board of Health and membership of the Regional Transport Authority while filing his nomination papers. Chakraborty, a former panchayat pradhan, was elected as an MLA in 2021 and has been re-nominated by his party.
Article 191(1)(a) of the Constitution of India stipulates that a person holding an office of profit under the government is disqualified from contesting elections. Tiwari alleged that Chakraborty had breached these provisions and that his nomination should be scrapped immediately. Tiwari’s agent, Sushil Tudu, forwarded the petition to the Election Commission today.
Responding to the allegations, Chakraborty said he had resigned from both posts prior to filing his nomination papers. He dismissed the complaint as “a desperate BJP ploy to score in an empty field amid looming defeat”, adding that the party should “learn properly” before making such claims.
The controversy has intensified campaign activity in Durgapur.