SP Khajuraho candidate’s form rejected; ‘ murder of democracy’, says Akhilesh

THE NOMINATION form of SP’S Khajuraho Lok Sabha seat candidate Meera Deepnarayan Yadav was rejected Friday by Panna District Election Officer Suresh Kumar Mishra, who said that Yadav did not sign at the designated place on the form and allegedly attached an old voter list.

Calling the decision a “BJP conspiracy”, Meera’s husband and former MLA Deepnarayan Yadav said they would move the HC soon against the DEO’S decision to ensure that the BJP does not get a walkover. The BJP has fielded Khajuraho sitting MP and its state unit president V D Sharma from the seat.

“The nomination has been cancelled due to two reasons – missing signature from a page and submitting an old voter list with the form. On Thursday, the officers did not inform us about the mistake during scrutiny. According to the rules, the candidate should be given a chance to rectify the mistake, but here the officers directly informed us about the rejection,” he added.

Meera filed her nomination on April 4, the last day for submitting nominations for the second phase.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “Cancelling the nomination of INDIA bloc’s SP candidate Meera Yadav from Khajuraho seat is a blatant murder of democracy. It is being said that if the signatures were not there then why did the inspecting officer take the form. All these are excuses and frustration of the defeated BJP. Those who can cheat in front of court’s camera, what kind of conspiracies they must be hatching behind the back after getting the form.”

MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari said, “The collector was not on the chair. Meera Yadav and her husband were present in the Collectorate from 12 noon to 3 pm. But the collector did not come. This is a joke with democracy. This is murder of democracy. Congress and the INDIA bloc oppose it.”

Sharma said, “Why did this happen to the opposition candidate? We should fight elections, it gives me pleasure.” Voting for the Khajuraho seat will be held on April 26 in second phase.