E-Paper
CPI plans to take minister to court
It seems more trouble is in store for Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor. The Communist Party of India (CPI) is planning to move court alleging that Tharoor forged documents to get into electoral rolls in Thiruvananthapuram.
It seems more trouble is in store for Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor. The Communist Party of India (CPI) is planning to move court alleging that Tharoor forged documents to get into electoral rolls in Thiruvananthapuram.
According to P Ramachandran Nair, the CPI candidate who contested against him and lost in 2009, Tharoor included his name in the voters’ list using fake documents.
“Though we petitioned the Election Commission, no action was taken, so we decided to move the High Court. It is a clear violation of the Representation of the People Act,” he said.
Nair claimed he had the documents to prove that Tharoor got into the electoral rolls illegally.
“He submitted the application to get enrolled the same day (October 27, 2008) he took a house on rent in Thiruvananthapuram. It clearly shows he’s not an ordinary resident,” he said.
Citing the Representation of the People Act and Election Commission norms, Nair said if a person wanted to be an ordinary citizen, he should be a permanent resident in a particular place for a considerable period.
“Besides, residence certificate was issued by a ward councillor and not by a revenue official. This certificate was obtained only nine days after he took the house,” Nair said.
