Kerala man forges signatures of MPs to file Vice President nomination, rejected

A case of fake signatures has come to light in the nomination process for the Vice Presidential election. The issue involves the nomination papers of Joemon Joseph from Kerala. His nomination has been rejected.

Jacob Joseph’s nomination carried the names and signatures of 22 proposers and 22 supporters, all Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The nomination was rejected after it was discovered that the names and signatures were written without the knowledge of the MPs concerned.

Several MPs have confirmed that they never signed Joseph’s nomination papers.

The last date for filing nominations was August 21 and 46 candidates had submitted 68 nomination papers. Out of these, 28 nominations belonging to 19 candidates were rejected at the initial stage. The remaining 40 nominations of 27 candidates were scrutinised on August 22.

Following scrutiny, only two candidates, i.e. C P Radhakrishnan and B Sudarshan Reddy, were found to have valid nominations. Both had filed four nomination papers each. However, the nomination of Jacob Joseph has become the subject of dispute.

Jacob Joseph’s nomination carried the names and signatures of 22 proposers and 22 supporters, all Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The nomination was rejected after it was discovered that the names and signatures were written without the knowledge of the MPs concerned. Several MPs have confirmed that they never signed Joseph’s nomination papers.

In a striking revelation, the papers even carried the signature of YSRCP MP Midhun Reddy, who is currently in jail.

The matter has now been brought to the attention of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and further action is awaited.

- Ends