Deepak’s poll papers attract objections

MARGAO

: Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) faced some anxious moments on Friday after BHaratiya Janata PArty (BJP) and little known Forward Democratic Labour Party raised objections to the nomination of its president Pandurang ‘Deepak’ Dhavalikar as the candidate for Shiroda byelection.

Returning officer

Kedar Naik who heard both sides passed a judgement dismissing both complaints and held Dhavalikar’s nomination as valid.


BJP candidate

Subhash Shirodkar

objected to the particulars in Dhavalikar’s nomination form raising questions over the point of authorisation of the nomination. He pointed out that Part II Form A was signed by the working president and not by the president or the secretary as mandated in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. Countering the objection, Dhavalikar, through his counsel, arguedthat as per the party’s constitution, the working president enjoys equal powers as that of the president and therefore the objection needed to be dismissed.

In his order, Kedar said “at the time of scrutiny of nomination forms, the returning officer is only required to decide as to whether the said candidate fulfils the criteria laid down for the purpose of contesting elections, which are laid down in the Handbook of Returning Officer, and rejection can be done as per para 6.10 of the said handbook.” Stating that the objection was not in conformity with any of the grounds mentioned in the said para, Kedar said he saw no merit in the objection and dismissed it.

As regards the second objection raised by Harishchandra Naik of Forward Democratic Labour Party on the ground that MGP has ceased to exist referring to the merger of two-third of the legislature wing of the party with BJP, Kedar in his order said, “...till the date of filing of nomination by (Dhavalikar), there has been no communication given by ECI that MGP is no longer a state recognised party, but only a registered party. The ECI would have also issued an extraordinary notification if MGP stood derecognised, which has not been the case.” Stating that the objection thus couldn’t be sustained, Kedar dismissed it and ruled that Dhavalikar’s nomination stood accepted.