Academic qualifications of Nandigram BJP candidate predate her birth; Congress moves court

The academic qualifications of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Nandigram candidate, Hasirani Rath, predate her birth year, according to the affidavit Ms. Rath filed at the time of her nomination. Questioning the matter, the Opposition has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the discrepancy.

On Wednesday (September 23, 2026), the West Bengal unit of the Congress party also moved court and filed a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court, challenging the alleged discrepancies in the BJP candidate’s education and birth year. The party has also moved court to seek bail for its Nandigram candidate, Milan Pradhan.