Furore after ‘imposter’ withdraws RLD candidate’s nomination

MEERUT : The zila panchayat president’s election in Baghpat took a strange turn on Tuesday when joint candidate of RLD and SP Mamta Kishore allegedly withdrew her nomination at the last moment, which paved the way for unopposed victory of BJP candidate Babli Devi.

However, RLD and SP leaders declared withdrawal of name a conspiracy by the officials to ensure unopposed victory of the BJP candidate. They alleged that their candidate Mamta, her two proposers and other zila panchayat members were staying in a hotel in Rajasthan after filing their nomination on Saturday.

They said that a woman with the fake name of Mamta was sent to the collectorate to withdraw the nomination and the district magistrate allowed her to withdraw papers without confirming her identity.

The party leaders also produced a video of Mamta, her husband Jai Kishore, two proposers and other members standing in front of the hotel in Rajasthan. In the video which went viral on social media, Mamta’s husband Jai Kishore threatened to commit immolation along with his children if the name withdrawal was not revoked.

He also demanded enquiry by the election commission.

RLD’s general secretary and former MLA Rajendra Sharma said that he spoke to divisional commissioner of Meerut Surendra Singh and district magistrate of Baghpat Rajkamal Yadav and lodged strong objection over the wrongdoing of the district administration.

Meanwhile, thousands of angry supporters of RLD and SP gathered at the DM’s office in Baghpat and tried to barge in. They also raised slogans against the district administration and the ruling BJP.

Sharma claimed that in view of rising pressure, the officials went on the back foot and the district magistrate eventually declared the nomination of Mamta valid.

Telephone calls made to the divisional commissioner and district magistrate to take their version remained unanswered.

BJP Baghpat district president Suraj Pal refused to comment on the issue. Election of the ZP president in the district is scheduled on July 3.

RLD AND SP LEADERS TERMED THE WITHDRAWAL OF NAME A CONSPIRACY BY THE OFFICIALS