‘Governor, not EC can declare my election null and void’

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh minister Narottam Mishra, who was disqualified by the Election Commission (EC) from contesting polls for three years, on Sunday said the EC does not have the power to declare his election null and void.

Mishra, who faced action for allegedly filing wrong accounts of election expenditure in the 2008 assembly elections, said according to his lawyer, only the governor could take a call on the issue.

“When the governor gets a copy of the EC order, he will take the opinion of the law department, following which he will take a decision,” he said.

Mishra alleged that EC’s order was ‘visangatipoorn’ (anomalous) and the loopholes in it will be misused by his political rivals in elections across the country.

“There is no proof that I have paid for the news. This order is based on imagination and possibilities. What this means is that anybody can pay for a news item in your favour and get you trapped. This EC order will have an impact on the politics of our country,” Mishra said.

Meanwhile, principal secretary Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha secretariat Awadhesh Pratap Singh said Mishra had two legal options — he could approach the state high court or appeal before the EC.

Singh said if Mishra still does not get relief, then prima facie it seems he stands disqualified as MLA. “There is some confusion as the order pertains to 2008 elections and he was re-elected in 2013.

“The notification will be sent to the governor, who will take a decision after consulting with the EC. If governor declares his election null and void, then assembly secretariat will have to issue a gazette notification on disqualification and bypoll in the Datia assembly segment,” he said.