Congress to approach EC over Vinod Tawde

Congress Mumbai president Sanjay Nirupam will approach the Election Commission soon against education minister Vinod Tawde for allegedly hiding information in his election affidavit about being a director in some private companies. Mr Nirupam has also demanded his resignation. Interestingly, similar allegations were made by BJP against Mr Nirupam, saying his wife is a director in a private company and that the Congress leader had not declared it in his election affidavit.

However, Nirupam has denied the allegations.

“We have sought legal opinion from the experts and are going to approach the Election Commission against Vinod Tawde. He did not disclose information about being a director of so many companies. He has flouted the election norms and the Commission should take action against him,” Mr Nirupam said. The Congress Mumbai president had also alleged Mr Tawde had three Director Identification Numbers (DIN) when only one is allowed. DIN is a unique 8 digit number that is required for any existing or proposed director of a company.

The BJP camp levelled a similar allegation against Mr Nirupam and said he had not disclosed information about his wife, who the BP said is a director in a company. However, Mr Nirupam refuted the allegation. “It’s baseless. They are demanding my resignation for that. Okay, I am ready to resign but then Tawde too will have to resign,” he said.

Citing the rulebook, Mr Nirupam said it was mandatory for any person to resign within two months from any profit-making company after assuming a government post. Mr Tawde had refuted all allegations against him and had said that the information accessed by the Opposition is false. “There is only one DIN on my name and the other two lapsed long back. They do not have any issue to take up before the Budget Session and hence they are making false allegations against me,” he had told reporters.