IMPHAL, April 22: Disqualification proceedings against Congress MLA of 27 Moirang Assembly constituency of Bishnupur District in the election of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly Mairembam Prithviraj alias Prithviraj Singh, Parliamentary Secretary of Manipur Government ( Youth Affairs and Sports, Tourism) are in motion.
According to a source, the Joint Chief Electoral Officer (Joint CEO), Manipur N Praveen Singh conveyed the matter of taking up the disqualification proceeding against MLA M Prithviraj Singh to Sub – Divisional Officer (SDO) Returning Officer (RO) from 27- Moirang Assembly Constituency, Moirang through an official letter.
The number of the official letter of the Jt CEO/Manipur dated April 18 is No.4|ELEC-101/SAE/EXP/2012/629. The official letter mentioned that as per the letter No. 76/MR – LA/2012 dated April 10, 2013 sent by Election Commission of India (ECI) to him, it was intimated to take up disqualification proceedings against MLA.
As per the source, it was mentioned in the affidavit filed by M Prithviraj Singh in the 10th Assembly election held in 2012 that he passed MBA from Mysore University in 2003 – 2004. His Affidavit can be confirmed at the link: http://ceomanipur.nic.in/docs2007/AFFIDAVITS1/S14/SE/27/Mairembam Prithviraj/Mairembam Prithiviraj_SC7.jpg
A complaint to the ECI says that the MBA qualification mentioned in the affidavit is not correct, inquiries with the Registrar of Mysor University informed that the sitting MLA of Moirang who is also facing a PIL as a respondent over the matter of Parliamentary Secretaries of the state exceeding the required limit was not a student of MBA in 2003 and 2004.
According to People’s Representative Act, 1951 ECI has been intimated to take up disqualification proceedings for filing the affidavit wrongly. It may be mentioned that M Prithviraj was appointed on October 6, 2012 and administered oath of office and secrecy.
It may be mentioned that as per Section 125(A) of the Representation of People Act, 1951, furnishing of false information by a candidate in his poll affidavit is an offence punishable with a prison sentence of six months or with fine.