Calcutta HC issues notice to EC, Adhikari on Nandigram polls

Justice Shampa Sarkar of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Suvendu Adhikari asking the BJP MLA elected from Nandigram, where he contested against CM Mamata Banerjee, to preserve the records and papers relating to the elections. The court also served a copy of the order to the Election Commission of India and the Returning Officer.

"Let notice be issued. The matter is made returnable on August 12, 2021. Pending the decision of the case, all documents, election papers, devices, video recordings etc., connected with the election which is under challenge before this court shall be preserved by the concerned authority," the order stated. Sarkar took over the case after the recusal of Justice Kaushik Chanda. Banerjee had objected to Chanda for his association with the BJP when he was a lawyer.

In the recent assembly elections, Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee by about 2000 votes from Nandigram. Though Banerjee approached the Election Commission for a recount, they denied it. She then challenged the results in court, seeking that Adhikari's election be declared void. She also alleged corrupt practices including bribery, promotion of hatred and enmity, seeking votes based on religion, booth capture, and discrepancies in the counting procedure.