The tough fight for upcoming Rajya Sabha elections got even more intense yesterday after senior leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that Naran Rathwa, who is the Congress party’s candidate from Gujarat, had obtained certificates for filing his nomination trough forgery and deceit.
Suresh Angadi, senior BJP leader of the party’s representation in the Gujarat assembly, wrote a letter to Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan claiming that Rathwa had received clearances from seven different departments in just fifty minutes, which indicates that either those clearances were obtained illegally or the papers had been forged.
Angadi alleged that Rathwa had filed for “no dues certificates” to seven different departments, including Parliament Library, Computer, Estate Office, NDMC, MTNL/BSNL, CPI Cell and Publications/Sales. The fact that all these certificates were handed over to Ratwa in 40-50 minutes indicates something fishy, says his letter.
BJP took up this issue with the Election Commission through senior party leaders and sought disqualification of the Congress candidate’s bid to contest Upper House polls.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala responded to BJP’s allegations while addressing reporters. He said that this was an old tactic followed by the saffron party, which had tried to do the same to prevent Rajya Sabha MP Ahmed Patel’s candidature in the past as well.