The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to investigate any disparities in the affidavit details submitted by Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar, who is contesting the Lok Sabha seat from Thiruvananthapuram, sources revealed.
The Indian National Congress (INC) lodged a complaint with the ECI regarding discrepancies in Rajeev Chandrashekhar’s actual and declared assets in his affidavit. In accordance with the procedure, the ECI has directed the CBDT today to scrutinize the affidavit and ascertain any discrepancies, if present. Under Section 125 A of the RP Act 1951, any inconsistencies or falsifications in the affidavit are subject to scrutiny.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar filed his nomination for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections on Thursday. Ahead of filing his nomination, the Union Minister expressed confidence in receiving support from the people of Thiruvananthapuram.
“It’s a big step forward in serving my city Thiruvananthapuram and I look forward to people supporting me and their best wishes. The people of Thiruvananthapuram will decide and I’m confident that they want a change, and they want an MP who can deliver,” Chandrashekhar said.
The parliamentary seat of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is gearing up for a ‘three-cornered fight’ as candidates from the BJP, Congress, and left parties vie for victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has nominated Rajeev Chandrashekhar, while the CPM-led LDF has put forward CPI leader Pannyan Raveendran, who previously won the seat in 2005. The Congress, on the other hand, has nominated its sitting MP Shashi Tharoor for the constituency.
Kerala, known for its robust Congress presence, contributes 20 parliamentarians to the Lok Sabha. Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress leader and former Union minister, has been victorious in the Thiruvananthapuram seat since 2009. He filed his nomination from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala on Wednesday.
The BJP has historically struggled to secure a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. In the Assembly polls, the party clinched victory only once in Nemam, Thiruvananthapuram district, where O Rajagopal emerged victorious in 2016.
Chandrasekhar’s entry into the capital contest has transformed it into a three-way competition, promising to be one of the most closely observed clashes in the impending Lok Sabha elections.
Voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the southern Indian state, encompassing all 20 seats, is slated for April 26, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4.
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