BJP pulls up own legislator for fielding relative in upcoming panchayat polls

Taking exception to the ‘indiscipline’, party state president Ashok Parnami asked Singh to immediately withdraw the nomination. “You were aware that the BJP has issued directions not to field relatives of elected representatives in the upcoming panchayat elections.

You had furnished a list of candidates from Khamnor concealing the facts and did not reveal that Priyanka is your daughter-in-law. On the last day of nomination filing today, you acquired a party symbol for her and thereby disregarded the party’s decision,” Parnami wrote to Singh.

In further directions, he told Singh to immediately withdraw the nomination or face disciplinary action.

Meanwhile several political parties headed by the Opposition Congress approached the Rajasthan High Court challenging the state government’s ordinance on fixing minimum educational qualifications for contesting the panchayat polls. Congress along with other political parties such as Samajwadi Party, National People’s Party led by Kirori Lal Meena, BSP, CPM, have come together in protest of the ordinance.

On Monday the Supreme Court, where a writ petition was filed by five affected sitting women sarpanches, had refused to entertain the case till the Rajasthan High Court heard it. The next hearing at the High Court is slated for January 12 by when the first phase of filing nominations will be over.