Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Congress Challenges BJP Candidate’s Class 10 Affidavit in Bengal
Congress says a BJP candidate’s election form may contain a mistake.
Hasirani Rath’s form reportedly says she is more than 60 years old.
It also reportedly says she passed Class 10 in 1965.
Congress says that would make her too young to take that examination.
The BJP says the correct year was 1980, not 1965.
Congress has asked the Calcutta High Court to cancel Rath’s candidacy if the information is false.
The court allowed Congress to file the case, but it has not decided the dispute.
In a separate case, Congress asked for bail for its candidate Milan Pradhan before the Nandigram bypoll.
Congress has challenged BJP candidate Hasirani Rath’s Nandigram bypoll affidavit in the Calcutta High Court.
The party says Rath listed 1965 as her Class 10 examination year while declaring herself more than 60 years old.
Congress argues this could mean Rath was between four and nine years old in 1965, depending on her age.
The BJP says Rath’s school attendance or examination year was 1980, not 1965.
Congress also sought bail for candidate Milan Pradhan in a 2007 murder case ahead of the October 6 bypoll.
- Who
- The West Bengal Congress, BJP candidate Hasirani Rath, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Calcutta High Court are central to the affidavit dispute; Congress candidate Milan Pradhan is involved in a separate bail case.
- What
- Congress is challenging alleged inconsistencies in Rath’s stated age and Class 10 examination year and is seeking cancellation of her candidature if the educational detail is false.
- When
- The affidavit issue was raised before the court on Wednesday after Congress approached the Election Commission on Tuesday; the Nandigram bypoll is scheduled for October 6.
- Where
- The dispute was brought before the Calcutta High Court and concerns the Nandigram Assembly bypoll in West Bengal.
- Why
- Congress says Rath’s reported age conflicts with the 1965 education date and alleges that election authorities did not act on the discrepancy.
Congress’s allegations
BJP’s response
Class 10 date
Congress’s allegations
Congress says Rath’s affidavit gives an apparently impossible combination of age and a 1965 Class 10 examination date.
BJP’s response
The BJP says Rath was a Class 10 student at the named school in 1980, suggesting the affidavit contains a date error rather than proving false qualifications.
Candidate’s eligibility
Congress’s allegations
Congress wants Rath’s candidature cancelled if the educational information is found to be false.
BJP’s response
The BJP rejected the challenge as a failed opposition attempt.
Election Commission’s handling
Congress’s allegations
Congress alleges that the Election Commission scrutinised the affidavit but failed to act and has requested an impartial inquiry.
BJP’s response
The articles do not provide a separate response from the Election Commission to those allegations.
- Candidate
- Hasirani Rath, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate for the Nandigram Assembly bypoll
- Reported affidavit details
- Rath listed herself as more than 60 years old and reportedly cited 1965 as the year she passed or attended Class 10
- BJP response
- The BJP said the relevant school year was 1980 rather than 1965 and rejected Congress’s challenge
- Congress request
- Cancellation of Rath’s candidature if the educational qualification in the affidavit is found to be false
- Court status
- Justice Krishna Rao allowed Congress to file the case; a hearing was expected on Thursday
- Election date
- The Nandigram bye-poll is scheduled for October 6
- Separate legal matter
- Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, arrested on September 18 in a case linked to a 2007 murder, sought an early bail hearing
