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Karnataka minister's election set aside

Allowing a petition of Kannada Chaluvali leader Vatal Nagaraj, Justice Chandrasekaraiah held that rejection of his (Nagaraj's) nominations was improper and illegal and directed the returning officer to accept his papers and proceed with the election afresh in accordance with law.

The judge, however, stayed the operation of his orders for six weeks to enable the parties to file appeals.

Minister of State for Medical Education Nafeesa Fazal, BJP leader B S Yediyurappa and JD-U leader M P Prakash are among the MLCs whose election has been set aside, apart from M V Rajashekaran, Karianna, M Krishnappa, Jalaja Naik, Maruthi Rao Moley, Winfred Fernandes and V R Sudarshan (all Congress) and Vimala Gowda (BJP).

The Congressmen had objected to the acceptance of nomination papers of Nagaraj, who was then heading a commission constituted by the state government to study the problems of Kannada-speaking people in border areas, as he was receiving a remuneration from the state.

The returning officer had rejected the nomination papers of Nagaraj and declared the results on June 3, 2000, subsequently challenged by Nagaraj, a former MLA.

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