The nomination papers of Naba Kumar Sarania, a two-term sitting MP from the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha Constituency in Assam, faced rejection by Returning Officer Pradeep Kumar Dwivedi during the scrutiny process. Sarania, who filed his candidacy as an independent candidate, saw his nomination invalidated following a decision by the Gauhati High Court, which upheld the dismissal of his status as a Scheduled Tribe (Plains).Despite Sarania’s prompt submission of his nomination just a day after the court’s ruling, his bid to contest was met with disappointment.
A total of 16 candidates had submitted their nomination papers, with the withdrawal deadline set for April 22nd.Underlining the electoral integrity, Dwivedi emphasized stringent monitoring to thwart any attempts at influencing the elections through financial or coercive means. Responding to the setback, Sarania remained undeterred, affirming his unwavering commitment to the electoral fray.
He declared, “Our nomination may have been cancelled, but two of our candidates remain in contention. Despite political conspiracies against us, we are resolute in our decision to contest and emerge victorious in the Kokrajhar seat.” Kokrajhar, a parliamentary constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes, holds paramount significance in the upcoming elections, alongside Diphu, as the battle for representation intensifies.
