Disqualification sword hangs over two MLAs of Jharkhand Assembly for not revealing facts before the Election Commission. While Congress MLA from Barkagoan Amba Prasad has been charged of not revealing complete information about her residence and income while filing nominations, BJP MLA from Kanke is charged of not revealing his caste.
Question has been raised on the affidavit filed by Hazaribagh's Barkagaon MLA Amba Prasad during nomination for Assembly elections 2019. One Pankaj Mahto of Ramgarh has accused Amba of giving false and incomplete information in her affidavit. On this, the Election Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Jharkhand to take necessary action on the complaint.
Pankaj Mahto in his complaint had stated that Amba in her affidavit has given her address as Village Pahra, Block: Keredari, District: Hazaribagh. Information about Amba Prasad's house, land price, area at Pahraha has not been given. Amba Prasad's present address is at Hurhuru, Hazaribagh, before and after the election.
Similarly, Amba in her affidavit, has stated as self-dependent, while before and after the election she is living with the entire family (siblings) using her parents' house and vehicle. Amba Prasad also has a part of the property details given by Yogendra Sao and Nirmala Devi in the 2009 and 2014 assembly elections. Amba Prasad has not mentioned his share in those properties in the election affidavit. In the affidavit, Amba Prasad has given his earning of 50 thousand from advocacy.
In the year 2018, Amba has enrolled in JH 678/18 to practice in the High Court. It is alleged that he has not passed the All India Bar Council examination. As such, it cannot be considered as an advocate. Pankaj Mahto has also questioned the role of officers scrutinizing the affidavits of candidates in the assembly elections 2019.
Confusion also prevails over membership of Kanke MLA Samri Lal, who represents the Kanke assembly constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes. But, the Valmiki / Bhangi caste which Samri Lal belongs to has not been listed in the list of Scheduled Castes of Jharkhand.
According to the report of the zonal officer of Ranchi city and Bargain zone and the caste investigation committee, Samri Lal is from the scheduled caste who came from Rajasthan and settled here. There is doubt about this. His caste certificate was issued in 2009. If action is taken, Samri Lal will be disqualified from the membership of the assembly. Then there will be a by-election to the assembly in Kanke assembly constituency.