Maharashtra SEC seeks BMC report after Colaba candidates allege nomination refusal

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday sought a report from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Bhushan Gagrani after some candidates alleged that returning officers in south Mumbai's Colaba refused to accept their nomination forms on the last day of filing.

The complaints pertain to wards 225, 226 and 227, where relatives of BJP leader and Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar are contesting the January 15 civic polls. His brother Makrand Narwekar, sister Gauri Shivalkar and sister-in-law Harshita Shivalkar had filed their papers on Tuesday in his presence.

"Following complaints that returning officers did not accept nomination forms on the final day, and in view of media reports, the commission has sought a report from Gagrani, the election officer for the civic polls in Mumbai," a senior SEC official said.