BJP candidate Hasirani Rath's nomination affidavit for the Nandigram by-election has come under scrutiny over an apparent mismatch between her stated age and education record. The affidavit describes her age as “above 60” but records 1965 as the year she passed Class 10.
Congress has said it will ask the Election Commission to investigate the matter. A senior state Congress leader told PTI that the party would raise the issue before the poll authority and seek action if Rath cannot explain the conflicting entries.
What the affidavit records
According to the report, Rath has not provided a date of birth in the nomination document. Instead, the age field states only that she is “above 60.” In the education section, she is listed as having passed Class 10 from Choukhali Ganga Padma Milan Kanya Vidyapith (HS), with 1965 entered as the year of completion.
The figures create a basic timeline problem. If Rath were 60 in 2026, her birth year would be around 1966—one year after the recorded Class 10 examination. If her age were 65, the implied birth year would be 1961, suggesting she completed Class 10 at about 4.
The report also applies a typical Class 10 completion age of 14 to 16 to the 1965 education entry. On that basis, Rath's birth year would fall between 1949 and 1951, placing her age at approximately 75 to 77 rather than above 60.
Congress seeks Election Commission inquiry
Congress has argued that the apparent inconsistency requires official verification. The senior party leader said the Election Commission should cancel Rath's nomination if she is unable to give a satisfactory explanation.
The issue comes during preparations for the Nandigram by-election, scheduled for 6 October. The seat became vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari resigned, having decided to retain the Bhabanipur seat after the 2026 Assembly election.
Rath is the mother of Chandranath Rath, described in the report as a close associate of Adhikari. Chandranath Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram in May this year.
What happens next
The Election Commission's response to the Congress complaint, and any clarification from Rath, will determine how the affidavit issue proceeds. The central question is whether the age and education entries can be reconciled before the by-election.
Conclusion
The Nandigram nomination dispute centres on the gap between Hasirani Rath's stated age and the 1965 Class 10 completion year. Congress is seeking an Election Commission inquiry and has called for possible cancellation of the nomination if the discrepancy remains unexplained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What discrepancy is reported in Hasirani Rath's affidavit?
The affidavit reportedly lists her age as “above 60” while giving 1965 as the year she passed Class 10.
Q. Which election is involved?
The issue concerns the Nandigram by-election, scheduled for 6 October.
Q. What action has Congress requested?
Congress has asked the Election Commission to investigate the affidavit entries.
Q. Could the nomination be cancelled?
A senior Congress leader said cancellation should be considered if Rath cannot satisfactorily explain the discrepancy.
Q. Which school is named in the affidavit?
The education entry names Choukhali Ganga Padma Milan Kanya Vidyapith (HS).
Q. Why is 1965 significant in the controversy?
It is the year recorded for Rath's Class 10 examination, creating a conflict with the age stated in the affidavit.
