|
New norms for filing nomination papers for elections to urban local bodies have left candidates in Darbhanga flummoxed. The polls to the civic body are expected in mid-May.
According to the new norms of the state election commission, candidates who want to file nomination for the civic polls have to submit a property valuation certificate and an updated mutation certificate. The “proposer” and the “supporter” of the candidate should not have more than two children each, the norms also prescribe.
On the nomination form, an aspirant has to furnish the name of a “proposer” for his candidature and of another person — the supporter — who seconds it.
While a registered valuer or a registered architect is authorised to issue the property valuation certificate after the assessment of the candidate’s land and property, the mutation certificate would have to be obtained from the circle officer at the block-level.
The candidates who wish to contest the Darbhanga Municipal Corporation (DMC) polls have to file their nominations between April 16 and 24. However, the lengthy paperwork ahead of them is deterring their progress.
There are altogether 48 wards under DMC.
Ward 45 councillor and former mayor Ajay Paswan told The Telegraph: “We are public representatives. The amendment to the election rules for the municipal corporation is complicated and has put us in trouble. It is difficult for us to overcome this and complete the required documentation. All this is not even required to file nomination for Lok Sabha or Assembly elections.”
Paswan added: “Sudhakar Kumar, a candidate who was defeated in the 2007 polls for ward number 45, has decided not to contest this time because of the lengthy documentation process. An updated mutation certificate issued by the circle officer at the block-level is required for the first time.”
Sudhakar confirmed that he is not willing to fight the municipal election in May, once he knew about the new norms, as it would be tough for him to complete the paperwork in time.
Mayor Gauri Paswan said: “Most of the sitting ward councillors are puzzled at the new norms. They should have been relieved from such burdensome documentation. The norm of two kids of the ‘proposer’ and the ‘supporter’ has also baffled them.”
The mayor added: “Earlier, we had to produce a no-dues certificate, an affidavit from the court, a residential certificate and a caste certificate. These were easy. But the introduction of the new norms in the paperwork is likely to affect the number of candidates for the municipal election.”
| 
