Cong alleges Pachanadi BJP candidate hid facts, seeks disqualification

Mangaluru: District Congress on Saturday sought disqualification of BJP candidate, who is contesting the MCC elections from Pachanadi ward over misleading information provided by her while filing the nominations.

Pointing out that the Pachanadi ward is reserved for women candidates from backward caste (A), Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza said that the BJP candidate obtained a Muslim caste certificate by misleading the Mangaluru Tahsildar.

Speaking to presspersons here Ivan revealed that Sangeetha R Nayak, originally Ishrath Begum had embraced Hinduism after marrying Ravindra Nayak and had also got her name changed legally in the year 2017. However, she procured a Muslim caste certificate to contest the elections. While Sangeetha is free to contest from any ward reserved for the general category she cannot contest from Pachanadi.

Ivan alleged that despite an objection being raised by the Congress party, the returning officer did not enquire into the same and Sangeetha was able to file her nominations. He demanded action against Sangeetha R Nayak for hiding the facts.

“The party will approach the state election commission and high court and seek Sangeetha R Nayak’s disqualification from contesting the elections from Pachanadi ward,” informed Ivan D’Souza.

Former mayor Kavitha Sanil, spokesperson Mohammed Haneef and others were present.