Congress today demanded the rejection of nomination of Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate for Rajya Sabha, Narayan Dass Gupta, on the grounds that his nomination violates the Article 102 of the Constitution of India as he is holding an office of profit.
Gupta, who is currently a trustee of the National Pension System Trust (NPS Trust), was one of the three candidates to be nominated for three Rajya Sabha seats by AAP, earlier this week. Businessman and social activist Sushil Gupta and AAP functionary Sanjay Singh were the other two names shortlisted for Rajya Sabha elections scheduled on January 16.
In a tweet, Congress leader Ajay Maken said that ND Gupta, who was appointed as the Trustee of government-owned Rs 1.75 lakh crore NPS Trust on March 30, 2015, is ineligible to contest for the Rajya Sabha seat.
In this regard, the Congress had written a letter to the Returning officer of the Biennial Elections to the Council of State for NCT of Delhi, where it pointed that ND Gupta’s nomination be rejected under Section 36 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, read-with Article 102 of the Constitution of India.
ND Gupta is considered a foremost expert on GST and has authored several books on accountancy and business. He is likely to be a shot in the arm for AAP which has been attacking BJP-led Centre over the implementation of GST.