HC issues Notice to Pratyusha Rajeswari over Nationality

The Orissa High Court has issues notices to BJD’s Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh over the issue of nationality. It was alleged that Pratyusha still remains a Nepalese citizen and does not qualify to become a Member of Parliament. The court asked her to explain why her Lok Sabha membership should not be cancelled.

The court also issued notices to the Election Commission and Returning Officer, who accepted and verified Pratyusha’s nomination papers. Pratyusha, wife of late Hemendra Chandra Singh, won the bypolls in Kandhamal, which was necessitated following the sudden demise of her husband, who had won the Lok Sabha polls in May 2014.

Pratyusha had defeated her nearest rival Rudramadhab Ray of BJP by 2,98,868 votes in the by-election held in October. Congress candidate Abhimanyu Behera lost the deposits.