Madras HC dismisses BJP Nilgiri candidate`s petition

Chennai: Madras High Court Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by BJP candidate from Nilgiri Lok Sabha constituency challenging the Election Commission`s order rejecting his nomination papers.

The First Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Satish K Agnihotri and Justice M M Sundaresh also rejected the plea of S Gurumurthy who prayed for a direction to Returning Officer P Shankar, restraining him from publication of the final list of contesting candidates. Today is the last day for withdrawal of nomination papers for the April 24 polls in 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu. The RO had rejected Gurumurthy`s nomination papers on April 7, citing delay in submitting form "A" and "B" which entails him allotment of Lotus symbol. With this, BJP will not only be left with no candidate in Nilgiri (Reserved) seat, where former Telecom minister A Raja is bidding for second term, but also the number of seats it is contesting in a rainbow alliance of six parties will come down to seven from eight.