BJP alleged that Naranbhai Rathwa submitted a 'fake' no dues certificate with his Rajya Sabha nomination papers.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday raised an objection to the nomination of Congress' Rajya Sabha candidate from Gujarat, Naranbhai J. Rathwa, and alleged that he submitted a 'fake' no dues certificate from the Parliament.
"No Dues Certificate issued to Naren Rathwa by Parliament was released at 3:30 pm yesterday. He submitted a fake certificate. Speaker has constituted an inquiry. He has also not mentioned serious allegations in his affidavit," Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani said.
After Rathwa's nomination was accepted, a BJP delegation, led by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and MP Bhupender Yadav met Election Commission officials over the issue.
"We have informed Election Commission about the irregularities in nomination forms of Congress Rajya Sabha candidate Naran Rathwa and independent PK Valera, also there is no proper mention of criminal cases against Rathwa in his affidavit," Union Minister Piyush Goyal said.
Accusing the BJP of playing "lowly game" in the past as well, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Rathwa's nomination was "absolutely correct."
"Ulta Chor Kotwal ko daante (It is like the pot calling the kettle black). Earlier also BJP played this lowly game during Ahmed Patel ji's election and now again, but Rathwa ji's nomination is absolutely correct and he will win comfortably," Surjewala said.
Earlier, Rathwa said his documents were in order but BJP leaders put pressure on Returning Officer.
"I thought my form will easily get passed. My documents according to requirements were submitted. But senior BJP leaders created disturbance and brought lawyers and tried to put pressure on Returning Officer. After 6 hours, my form was sanctioned," Rathwa said.
"BJP's a party of lies. We were honest and truth always wins. Our candidate's nomination form has been cleared. You can trouble but never beat the truth. It's only BJP who can make an issue out of a non-issue," Gujarat Congress leader Shakti Singh Gohil said.
The Returning Officer accepted nomination papers of seven candidates -- two of the Congress, three of the BJP, one Independent backed by the Congress, and one dummy candidate fielded by the BJP. Nomination papers of one Independent were rejected.
Among the seven nominations accepted was BJP's dummy candidate Rajnikant Patel.
The BJP has fielded Union ministers Purshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandavia, apart from former MLA Kiritsinh Rana.
Today was the last date for scrutiny of nominations while March 15 is the last day for withdrawal of candidature. Elections for four Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat will be held on March 23.
The BJP had objected to the validity of a no-dues certificate submitted by Rathwa, a former Union Minister. The BJP fielded senior leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and Vaghani to ensure the rejection of Rathwa's nomination.
The Congress deployed Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Paresh Dhanani, and senior party leader Shaktisinh Gohil to put forward Rathwa's case. The Returning Officer eventually ruled in Rathwa's favour and accepted his nomination form.
Besides Rathwa, the Congress has fielded Amee Yajnik for the second seat. Independent candidate PK Valera is also backed by the Congress.
The nomination of Independent Paresh Moolani was rejected since it was not backed by the statutory number of proposers.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Naran Rathwa")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}