Bindaas govt gal contests polls flouting rules

The Election Commission rules clearly state that no person can contest any election if he/she holds a government job.

The Election Commission rules clearly state that no person can contest any election if he/she holds a government job.
u00a0
If anyone flouts the rule, the person can be sacked. If elected, the person can be disqualified.

Swati Nilegaonkar (52) did just that.

She took a month off from her job of assistant nursing officer at the Central Railway hospital at Byculla and contested the October 13 Assembly elections from Khed Alandi in Pune.
u00a0
Sources said Nilegaonkar took sick leave and contested on a Republican Left Democratic Party ticket.

In her affidavit filed in Khed Alandi, she does not mention she is a government servant and after losing the elections, she resumed work quietly, without letting anyone know where she'd been.

Law Be Damned: As a government employee, Swati Nilegaonkar can't compete in elections, but she did just that in the Assembly polls

However, colleagues at the hospital got wind of the truth and filed a complaint at CR.

CR PRO A K Singh, said, "We are not aware that she stood for elections. She is on leave since the last two days , but if found guilty, appropriate action will be taken."

Sanjay Bhagwat, deputy district election officer (city), said, "If anyone has violated this rule, the opposition party can ask for disciplinary action on the candidate.

There is also a public grievance redressal system on pgportal.gov.in."

The Other Side

I took voluntary retirement from the job before contesting the election. I am aware of the rule that a government servant cannot stand for election. Swati Nilegaonkar