Weighed down by the morality question after NDA-backed “independent” candidate for the Presidential poll, B S Shekhawat, unilaterlly declared his assets even though there is no requirement under rules, Congress on Monday approached the Election Commission with a list of UPA-Left candidate Pratibha Patil’s assets for submission.
However, the Election Commission refused to accept the declaration, the contents of which have been released to the media, citing the rules in the President & Vice-President Election Act of 1952 that does not mention any such provision.
Earlier, the Returning Officer for the election, Lok Sabha Secretary-General P D T Achary, had also informed the Congress that no such declaration could be accepted as it was not part of the requirements under the rules.
Ms Patil’s chief election manager and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi, who met Election Commissioner Navin Chawla with the list, said, “We asked the Election Commission should we submit the property and assets list of our candidate, which is ready with us, but the EC told us it is not required by law and hence cannot be accepted.” Mr Shekhawat’s representatives had also met the returning officer on June 25 with a similar request, and were also turned down, before he unilaterally declared his assets in public.
Following information that they had also submitted a copy to the EC, Mr Dasmunsi on Monday approached the EC. “But I was told by Mr Chawla that the EC has not received any such document at their level,” Mr Dasmunsi said.
Ambiguous stand
The development came even as Congress spokesman Devendra Dwivedi maintained the party’s ambiguous stand on whether or not Ms Patil would declare her assets, saying, “Under the law, if a candidate declares the assets, it cannot be accepted. So, Mr Shekhawat’s declaration is just gimmickry.
From our side, whatever is done will be done in a responsible manner.”
Meanwhile, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will host a dinner in the capital on Tuesday in honour of Ms Patil, which will be attended by all MPs of United Progressive Alliance and its supporting parties.