Rejected candidate accuses RO of bias towards BJP

Udhgamandalam: Refuting the charge that he was purchased by a political party, S Gurumurthy, BJP candidate from Nilgiris (SC) constituency,whose nomination was rejected for delay in submitting mandatory A and B forms,on Friday accused the Returning Officer of showing bias to his party. Speaking to reporters at nearby Coonoor, he admitted to a 30 minute delay in submitting the B form, but added that District Collector P Shankar, who is the RO, was not present and had arrived there at around six PM.

Though it was his mistake, Shankar had not adopted a similar yardstick for the AAP candidate, who was given half a day to produce the community certificate from Salem, which clearly indicated the `partiality` towards BJP, he said. Gurumurthy termed as false propaganda, the charges of being purchased by a political party for a huge amount and said if anybody had evidence, they should produce it. "I am ready to face any disciplinary action by the party if proved guilty," he said. On the future course of action,he said after the Madras High Court rejected his plea, challenging the Election Commission`s order, rejecting his nomination papers, he had moved the Supreme Court, where he hoped he would get justice. On April 9 the Court while dismissing his petition, had also rejected his plea, praying for a direction to the RO to restrain him from publishing the final list of contesting candidates. 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.