Papers cleared amid row, Priyanka kicks off campaign

The papers of 27 out of a total of 34 aspirants, including Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi, were accepted after the scrutiny of nominations on Monday for the November 13 bypoll at the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency of Kerala. Priyanka kicked off her campaign in Wayanad today.

Besides her, those whose papers were accepted included BJP’s Navya Haridas and CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri.

Suspense was building up with regard to Priyanka Gandhi’s nomination papers after the BJP accused her concealing information in her assets affidavit.

After Priyanka was cleared today for contesting elections from Wayanad, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya raised questions about the acceptance of her affidavit by the EC, alleging that she did not disclose her the complete information regarding her assets.

Malviya said, “Despite the inconsistencies and non-disclosure of Priyanka Vadra’s investment and FIR in the Associated Journal Limited (holding company publishing scam tainted National Herald), if the papers have been accepted, then we need to ask who is holding the elections? The ECI or the concerned DM, who has interpreted the submission, as convenient.”

“If information in the public domain is not mentioned and the nomination paper is still accepted, then what is the purpose of scrutiny?” Malviya added.