The State Election Commission has cancelled candidature of a Congress candidate contesting the local bodies poll in Gujarat for not having a toilet facility at his house as required under the new law.
Congress candidate Ashok Talaviya, who was contesting for Gandevi tehsil panchayat in Navsari district, lost his nomination after local election officials yesterday conducted a spot examination of his house.
The inspection was carried out after the BJP candidate from Ajrai seat Rakesh Patel demanded cancellation of Talaviya's candidature claiming that he did not have a working toilet at his house.
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Under the Gujarat Local Authority (Amendment) Act-2014, which was passed last year by the state Assembly, it is compulsory for all poll candidates of local bodies to have a working toilet facility at their houses to contest polls.
Citing this provision, Patel complained to the election authorities. After which, local election officials visited his house and found merit in the complaint, officials said.
"As per the new law, it is compulsory for poll candidate to have a working toilet facility. Since Talaviya did not had toilet at his house, we have rejected his nomination," election officer of Gandevi tehsil S J Chauhan said.
With this, Rakesh Patel has won the seat uncontested, as only two nominations were filed for the Ajrai seat, he added.
