By IANS,
Bhopal : Congress leader Raj Kumar Patel’s nomination papers were rejected as he did not submit a form in time. The nominee from Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha constituency Tuesday said he would challenge the returning officer’s decision.
Patel had not submitted the original ‘A’ form while filing his nomination in the office of returning officer at Raisen Saturday. When the anomaly was noticed an hour before the deadline, the party rushed a fresh set of papers from Bhopal but could reach only after 3 p.m.
The returning officer did not accept the original and reserved his decision. After daylong arguments that concluded Monday night, Raisen district Collector Sandeep Yadav held his ground and rejected Patel’s nomination.
Patel, who was to be pitted against Bharatiya Janata Pary (BJP) Sushma Swaraj, said the decision was a setback for him and that he would challenge the decision.
“I will challenge the decision of the collector in court after taking legal advice from my lawyer,” Patel told IANS.
But many Congress members in the state hold him responsible for the mistake.
“Such negligence was never expected from a senior leader like Patel, who is a former education minister and a veteran of several elections,” a Congress leader said on condition of anonymity.
Patel, however, said he would present his side to the party and stressed that his devotion to the Congress should not be doubted.