GUWAHATI, March 19 � Though the March 26 election to the two Rajya Sabha (RS) seats from the State seems imminent, Congress nominee Silvius Condpan today created confusion by lodging a complaint against his rival Opposition candidate Jayanta Baruah just about 20 minutes ahead of the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations.
Congress nominee Condpan, through an affidavit, alleged today that Jayanta Baruah was convicted and sentenced to one month�s simple imprisonment with fine of Rs 10,000.00 and in default to pay the fine, to undergo further simple imprisonment for a further period of seven days in CR Case No 604/2001.
Baruah preferred an appeal in the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Darrang, Mangaldoi. But in his affidavit filed for the purpose of offering his candidature, Baruah did not disclose that a criminal case was registered, charge was framed and sentence was passed against him by a Court of law and that he preferred an appeal against that order of conviction, alleged Condpan.
Condpan further alleged that Baruah had furnished incorrect information on his age by stating that he is aged about 47 years as on March 16, 2010. This is not in conformity with the information provided by him in the clause of his affidavit relating to his educational qualifications and details of school and university education. Baruah has stated that he passed the HSLC examination in 1975, said Condpan.
When asked for comments, Assembly Secretary GP Das, who is the Returning Officer of the RS Elections from the State, told this newspaper that as of to date, as, none of the nominations was withdrawn, so the election to the two RS seats seems to be imminent.
On the complaint filed by Condpan, he said that he would have to examine the case and by Monday he would be able to let his decision on the matter known. But he maintained that complaints of such nature should be lodged at the time of scrutiny of the nomination papers. Condpan lodged his complaint around 2-40 pm today� that is, around 20 minutes before the elapse of the deadline for withdrawal of the nomination papers, said Das.
Condpan said that the objection to Baruah�s nomination �could not be raised at the time of scrutiny of the nominations as knowledge about a pending appeal against Shri Jayanta Baruah was gained after the date of scrutiny of nomination papers��
The Congress has fielded Najnin Faruqui and former Rajya Sabha MP Condpan for the two RS seats, while the Opposition has fielded Baruah as its common candidate. The nomination papers filed by the three candidates were found valid during the scrutiny on March 17 and today was fixed as the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.
