Joshi, Jyani file papers without party letter

GS Paul & Praful Chander Nagpal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar/Fazilka, January 16

BJP minister Anil Joshi today submitted his nomination papers from Amritsar North even before the party officially declared him as its candidate. His papers have been put on hold for want of party’s authorisation letter.

With much fanfare, the sitting MLA from Amritsar North peddled his way to the office of the Deputy Commissioner in a procession. Those accompanied him included Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik, BJP’s Amritsar Lok Sabha bypoll candidate Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina and Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora.

Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Electoral Officer Ravinder Singh clarified that Joshi submitted his nomination papers as a BJP candidate from Amritsar North, but without the authorisation letter from the party.

“His present set of papers does not qualify him as party candidate. He has been issued a notice to furnish the mandatory documents by January 18 before 3 pm,” he said. 

Similarly, three-time BJP MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani filed his nomination papers from Fazilka without the party’s authorisation letter. Jyani was only accompanied by his wife Nirmala. Jyani maintained that the auspicious time for filing the nomination was running out.

Returning Officer Vinod Bansal said the authority letter of party ticket could be submitted till January 18.