Assam LS polls: Two-time MP Naba Sarania’s nomination rejected
GUWAHATI: The BJP-led NDA’s electoral prospects in Assam’s Scheduled Tribe-reserved Kokrajhar seat have suddenly brightened after the Returning Officer (RO) rejected the nomination papers of two-time sitting MP Naba Kumar Sarania following scrutiny.
Recently, Sarania, a former leader of the insurgent group United Liberation Front of Assam, filed a writ petition in the Gauhati High Court challenging the invalidation of his ST (Plains) status by the State-Level Scrutiny Committee. However, the court dismissed his petition on Thursday.
RO Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi informed journalists on Sunday that 16 candidates had submitted their nomination papers, and Sarania's nomination was found to be defective.
"It is observed that Sri Naba Kumar Sarania submitted an ST Certificate issued by All Assam Tribal Sangha, Nalbari District Unit, countersigned by the then Deputy Commissioner, Nalbari. In the community field, ‘Boro’ has been struck off, and ‘Rava’ has been entered without any corresponding countersignature of the issuing authority,” the RO wrote in an order.
He noted not only “overwriting and crossing in the caste/community section” of the November 18, 1986 certificate but also the absence of signatures or stamps at those specific spots by the certificate issuing authorities.
He remarked that the document was extremely dubious, raising significant doubts about its genuineness. Additionally, he stated that a person cannot belong to two different communities or hold two ST certificates of two different communities.
This development will undoubtedly embolden the NDA. The United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), a BJP ally, is contesting from the Kokrajhar seat as part of the understanding among the NDA partners. The contest is now expected between the UPPL and the Bodoland People’s Front.
Sarania had won the elections the last two times, leveraging the polarization of non-Bodo votes in his favor. This western Assam constituency, falling under the Bodoland Territorial Region, has over 60 per cent non-Bodo voters.
The BJP, the UPPL, and the Gana Suraksha Party, headed by Sarania, form the ruling coalition in the autonomous Bodoland Territorial Council.
Last month, the UPPL urged Sarania to refrain from participating in the polls if his party wants to remain in power in the BTC.