3 min readKolkataMar 7, 2026 05:28 PM ISTRahul Sinha rejected the allegations and said all the papers and documents submitted while filing nomination were 'in order'. (File Photo)The Trinamool Congress (TMC) Friday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to cancel the candidature of BJP Rajya Sabha nominee Rahul Sinha for alleged concealment of information and ‘serious’ mistakes in his nomination papers.MLA Aroop Biswas, Member, National Working Committee, TMC, wrote a letter to ECI stating, “The right of the voter to know the full particulars of a candidate, including his financial and other disclosures, has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India as an integral facet of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. Any process which circumvents or dilutes this requirement strikes at the very foundation of a free and fair electoral process.”He further said, “In the present case, the conduct of the scrutiny proceedings and the acceptance of the nomination of Mr Biswajit Sinha (Rahul Sinha) despite the glaring deficiencies and inconsistencies in the affidavit has seriously prejudiced the transparency of the electoral process and has adversely affected the rights of the electorate.“That in view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the scrutiny of the nomination of Mr Biswajit Sinha conducted on 06 March 2026 stands vitiated by procedural irregularities and is liable to be treated as null and void. That it is therefore respectfully requested that the Election Commission of India and the competent authorities take immediate cognizance of the aforesaid irregularities and take appropriate steps in accordance with law, including reconsideration of the validity of the nomination of Mr. Biswajit Sinha and the scrutiny proceedings conducted on 06 March 2026.”The TMC claimed they raised the issue during the scrutiny process itself, but their objections were ignored.Sinha, however, rejected the allegations and said all the papers and documents submitted while filing nomination were “in order”.“The TMC wanted to cancel my candidature on false and flimsy pretexts, which were overruled by the returning officer,” said the BJP nominee for the Rajya Sabha polls.Story continues below this adThe biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha are scheduled on March 16, when five seats from the state will go to polls.The last date for filing nominations was March 5, while the scrutiny took place on March 6.The ruling TMC has fielded state minister Babul Supriyo, former Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar, lawyer-activist Menaka Guruswamy, and actor Koel Mallick as its candidates, while the BJP has nominated Sinha, a former West Bengal unit president, for the remaining seat.The TMC is expected to comfortably secure four of the five seats, while the BJP has the numbers to win one seat.Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd