The nomination of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) candidate Pushpa Waghmare for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections has sparked a major controversy. This comes after allegations surfaced that she concealed information about having four children, which could potentially disqualify her under rules barring candidates with more than two children.
Nomination Cleared Despite Apparent Discrepancy
On Wednesday, the controversy intensified even as election officials confirmed that Waghmare's nomination from Prabhag 36C had been formally accepted. The acceptance came despite clear regulations that disqualify individuals with more than two children from contesting municipal elections in Maharashtra. The returning officer for Laxmi Nagar zone, Suresh Bagle, explained the officials' stance to the media.
Bagle stated that the nomination papers were cleared based solely on the affidavit submitted by the candidate under oath. "We accepted the nomination. We do not verify what is stated in the affidavit," Bagle said. He emphasized that the legal responsibility for the truthfulness of the declaration lies entirely with the candidate. He further clarified that the election machinery would not act on its own and that court intervention would only occur if a formal petition is filed by a complainant.
"She Remains a Candidate Unless Challenged in Court"
The returning officer's position has set the stage for a potential post-election legal battle. "If a complaint goes to court, she will have to prove her claim. Until then, she remains a candidate," Bagle asserted. This procedural stand means that unless a rival candidate or a voter from the constituency approaches the judiciary, Waghmare will continue to be in the electoral fray, and the results will be declared based on her current eligibility status.
This approach has raised significant questions about the scrutiny process for nomination papers. Critics argue that while officials may not be mandated to conduct a detailed verification, accepting an affidavit with an apparent and major violation of a basic eligibility criterion points to a serious lapse in the initial filtering process.
Activists and Rivals Demand Accountability and Immediate Review
The election officials' decision has drawn sharp criticism from civic activists and rival political parties. They have alleged gross lapses in the scrutiny process and warned of complicated legal scenarios if an allegedly ineligible candidate wins the election. The main concerns raised include:
- The possibility of the election being declared null and void after the results, leading to a wasteful by-poll.
- Undermining the intent of the two-child norm, which is a policy aimed at promoting responsible family planning.
- Setting a wrong precedent and encouraging candidates to file false affidavits, relying on the lack of proactive verification.
The critics have demanded an immediate review of the decision and called for accountability from the election authorities. They argue that the issue should have been addressed and resolved during the scrutiny stage itself, rather than being passed on for the courts to decide after the electoral process is complete. This controversy puts the spotlight on the efficacy of the affidavit system and the need for more robust checks to uphold the integrity of election rules.
