EC directs replacement of RO

The EC has directed replacement of returning officer in Chamarajpet assembly seat, where Chief Minister S M Krishna is contesting.

The Election Commission has directed replacement of the returning officer in Chamarajpet assembly constituency here, where Chief Minister S M Krishna is contesting, for a "technical error" in writing to Pramila Nesargi seeking to know if she was the official BJP candidate.

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The returning officer had written to Nesargi after the deadline for filing of nominations on March 31, when there was "no scope" to seek such a clarification, the state Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Dasgupta told reporters here today.

It was a "technical error" and the EC has issued the direction for replacement on April six, he said, adding, it was in the process of being implemented.

He said EC has however upheld the order of the returning officer in rejecting the nominations of Nesargi on the ground that she had not produced Form B before 3 pm on the date fixed as the last date for receiving nominations.

BJP had first announced Nesargi as its candidate but rushed actor "Mukhyamantri Chandru" to file his nominations after sensing that Krishna, who had maintained secrecy and suspense over his constituency, would be contesting from there. Chandru had however produced the Form B where it was mentioned that he is the official candidate.