EC rejects Jiten’s plea to disqualify Mabashar

By  Firstdespatch Desk   Feb 01, 2023

Agartala, Feb 1: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has turned down the complaint filed by the CPI (M) against its MLA Mabashar Ali, who filed his nomination as a candidate of the BJP from Kailashahar constituency in the ensuing assembly elections, official sources said today.

Ali had recently joined BJP after his winning seat was elected allotted to state Pradesh Congress Chief, Birajit Sinha following a seat sharing agreement between Congress and CPI(M).

"As Mabashar Ali neither resigned from the Assembly, nor from the party, in no circumstances, he may be treated as a candidate of the BJP. Hence, he may be disqualified for being a BJP candidate for want of statutory legal requirement," Choudhury said in a letter to the returning officer of Kailashahar assembly constituency.

Returning officer Pradip Sarkar, who examined Ali's nomination found his papers are in order, and rejected the complaint.

"The EC received a complaint against Mabashar Ali. The returning officer examined his Form A and B, and found his nomination is in order. The decision has already been communicated to the CPI(M) state secretary", Chief Electoral Officer Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao told reporters.

Sinha was defeated to Ali as Congress candidate in the last 2018 assembly elections.

Elections for the sixty-member assembly in Tripura would be held on February 16, and the votes will be counted on March 2. FD JK