SHILLONG, March 26 - Nomination papers of all three candidates for the Tura Lok Sabha seat have been found to be valid. Meanwhile, six nomination papers for the Shillong seat have also been found correct. However, the nomination papers of two candidates for the seat were �under examination� on the day of scrutiny today.
In Tura, the nomination papers of NPP candidate Agatha Sangma, Congress candidate Mukul Sangma and BJP candidate Rikman G Momin were found to be in order by the Returning Officer, Ram Singh.
For the Shillong seat, the nomination papers of sitting Congress MP Vincent H Pala, Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem, UDP candidate Jemino Mawthoh and BJP candidate Sanbor Shullai were found to be valid. The nomination papers of Independent candidates, Samuel Hashah and Romeo Phira Rani, also had no issues.
But the nomination papers of Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) candidate THS Bonney and CPI candidate Justice Kharbasanati are being examined and notices have been served by the Returning Officer, (RO), Abhishek Bhagotia, to these two candidates.
In the case of Bonney, a complaint has been received by the RO from Pyndapborthiaw Saibon, the KHNAM president, that Bonney was not authorised to file his nomination as the party candidate. The complaint was filed after the Meghalaya High Court ruled that Saibon is the president of the KHNAM.
The KHNAM is divided into two factions � one led by Saibon and the other by Adelbert Nongrum, MLA of North Shillong constituency. Bonney has filed his nomination papers with the backing of Nongrum. Bhagotia said since the complaint has been received from Saibon along with the court order, a notice has been served on Bonney.
�The candidate must submit his reply by 11 am on March 28 regarding the complaint. Till that time we have kept the nomination papers on hold,� he said. On the other hand, a bank complaint was received that Kharbasanti, the CPI candidate, has not declared his pending loans with the bank.
�There was a loan that he had availed and there is a certain amount of interest that is due on the loan which was not declared by the candidate. We have asked the bank to submit the complaint in the form of an affidavit,� the RO said.
Kharbasanti, on the other hand, was also served a notice and has been provided time till March 27 to file his reply. In the case of Bonney, he can appeal before the High Court by tomorrow and the option before Kharbasanti is that he clears his dues so that the complaint is withdrawn by the bank.
