Guwahati: During the scrutiny process, the nomination papers of Naba Kumar Sarania, a two-time sitting MP from Kokrajhar Lok Sabha Constituency in Assam, were rejected by Returning Officer Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi.
Sarania, who had filed as an independent candidate, saw his nomination invalidated following a decision by the Gauhati High Court, which upheld the dismissal of his status as a Scheduled Tribe (Plains).
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This development came despite Sarania’s filing of his nomination just a day after the court’s ruling.
A total of 16 candidates submitted their nomination papers, with the deadline for withdrawal of candidature set for April 22.
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Dwivedi emphasized the strict monitoring of any attempts to influence the elections through financial or coercive means.
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In response to the rejection, Sarania asserted his determination to continue the fight, stating, “Our nomination may have been cancelled, but two of our candidates remain in contention. Despite political conspiracies against us, we are resolute in our decision to contest and emerge victorious in the Kokrajhar seat.”
Kokrajhar, one of Assam’s parliamentary constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes, holds significance in the upcoming elections, alongside Diphu.