Congress moves HC against Nandigram BJP candidate’s affidavit:Questions how she sat Class 10 exams in 1965 despite being born in 1966; seeks cancellation of candidature

Ahead of the bypoll in West Bengal’s Nandigram, Congress has moved the Calcutta High Court against BJP candidate Hasirani Rath, alleging that she gave incorrect information about her age and education in her election affidavit. Congress leader and lawyer Ritu Ghoshal told the court that Rath’s affidavit lists her birth year as 1966, but says she passed the Madhyamik (Class 10) exam in 1965. The Congress questioned how she could have passed the exam before she was born. The Nandigram bypoll will be held on October 6, with counting on October 9. Rath’s candidature was announced on September 15. She is the mother of Chandranath Rath, the PA of CM Shubhendu Adhikari, who was shot dead two days after the Bengal election results were announced on May 4. Questions also raised over her schooling Ghoshal told Justice Krishna Rao that Rath’s affidavit states that she was a Class 10 student at Chaukhali Ganga Padma Milan Kanya Vidyapeeth in 1965. The Congress also questioned the school’s records. According to the party, the school was established in 1963 and offered education only up to Class 5 at the time. The school received government approval to provide education up to Class 10 in 1973. Congress also questioned the Election Commission’s inquiry Ghoshal said the Election Commission had examined the affidavit but had taken no action over the alleged discrepancy. The Congress has demanded a detailed investigation into the matter. Urging the court to hear the case at the earliest, he said that even if the candidature were cancelled, the by-election would not be affected because other candidates were in the fray. Demand to cancel candidature if false information is proven Justice Krishna Rao asked what relief the Congress was seeking in the case. Ghoshal replied that if the educational qualifications mentioned in the affidavit were found to be false, Rath’s candidature should be cancelled. Hasirani Rath says she has full faith in the law Hasirani Rath said she was aware of the case. She said she had full faith in the law and would accept whatever decision the court reached. The by-election in Nandigram will be held on 6 October, and the votes will be counted on 9 October. Rath’s candidature was announced on 15 September. She is the mother of Chandranath Rath, an aide to Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari who was killed in May. Shubhendu defeated Mamata in Nandigram; BJP won twice in a row Nandigram has long been a key centre of political rivalry between the TMC and BJP. The 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in the area played a major role in helping Mamata Banerjee and the TMC come to power in West Bengal in 2011. In 2021, Mamata Banerjee contested from Nandigram against Shubhendu Adhikari, who is now Bengal’s Chief Minister, but lost. In the 2026 Assembly election, Adhikari contested from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur and won both seats. He later retained Bhabanipur and resigned from Nandigram, leaving the seat vacant. Bypolls to six seats in four states Tamil Nadu — two seats: Madurantakam and Dharapuram fell vacant after the resignations of Maragatham Kumaravel and P Sathyabama. The final voter list for both seats was published on February 23. Puducherry — Thattanchavady: The seat fell vacant after N Rangasamy’s resignation. Its voter list was published on February 14. West Bengal — Rejinagar and Nandigram: Rejinagar fell vacant after Humayun Kabir’s resignation, while Nandigram was vacated by Shubhendu Adhikari. The final voter lists were published on February 28. Assam — Nagaon Lok Sabha seat: The seat fell vacant after Pradyut Bordoloi’s resignation. Its final voter list was published on February 10. ​