Ranchi/Dumka: The returning officer of Barhait (ST) assembly, Gautam Bhagat, on Friday said CM Hemant Soren’s age mentioned in his election affidavit for this year's assembly polls matched with his birth certificate and other documents. His statements came soon after BJP charged Hemant with filing false information about his age. Hemant’s party, JMM also rubbished the charge, saying his certificates are in public domain and BJP has no issue to raise in the election.
Talking to TOI, Bhagat said, “If there have been discrepancies in the 2019 affidavit, then it is not under my jurisdiction.”
BJP leaders Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that Hemant aged by seven years between two elections as his affidavit in 2019 said he was 42 years while his 2024 affidavit says he is 47.
Chief electoral officer K Ravi Kumar said returning officers move forward with the nomination of candidates based on a summary enquiry. “Any discrepancies then become a matter of election petition which has to be moved to the high court,” he said.