Maken seeks rejection of nomination of AAP's RS candidate

New Delhi: Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken today filed an objection to the nomination of AAP’s Raja Sabha candidate N D Gupta for allegedly holding an office of profit. In his objection filed with the returning officer, Maken claimed that Gupta is “currently holding the office of a Trustee of the National Pension System Trust. He was appointed on March 30”.

Gupta, along with two other Rajya Sabha candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party, Sanjay Singh and Sushil Gupta, had filed nomination papers on January 4. The scrutiny of the nominations is today. “ND Gupta’s nomination is liable to be rejected under Section 36 of Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 read with Article 102 of the Constitution,” Maken claimed.

Meanwhile, the AAP said that Maken was trying to gain “cheap publicity” through “frivolous” objections as the law does not forbid trustees from contesting. “Section 3, clause (L) of Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959, gives exemption to trustee from disqualification under the office of profit,” AAP leader Raghav Chadha tweeted.

“Also, RO (returning officer) is not competent authority to adjudicate on OoP, EC is. Frivolous objections to gain cheap publicity by Congress,” he added.