Imphal, January 25: Categorically stating that there was nothing wrong with the nomination paper filed by Aleng Shimrah as a Congress candidate from Ukhrul AC, a number of Congress workers owing allegiance to Shimrah today informed The Sangai Express that the fault lies with the Congress party and not the candidate.

Aleng Shimrah's paper was rejected by the Returning Officer of Ukhrul AC, Pankaj Kumar Pal during scrutiny. Explaining, the Congress workers said that Aleng Shimrah filed his nomination paper on January 18 while AS Arthur filed his paper on January 20 at 2.20 pm.

The last date of filing nomination paper was 3 pm of January 20.The clearly peeved Congress workers said that the fiasco was the doing of the Congress party and added there was nothing wrong in the nomination paper filed by Shimrah.

Givign details, the Congress workers said that Oscar Fernandes on January 14 issued a notification announcing the names of INC candidates for the first phase poll.

The name of Aleng Shimrah was included in the list, they reminded and added that Form A was issued by Oscar Fernandes on January 13 and Form B by MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam.

Accordingly Shimrah filed his nomination on January 18 with all the papers in order, they said.

However in a sudden turn around, the Congress announced the name of AS Arthur as its candidate in Ukhrul AC, said the Congress workers.

The nomination paper of Aleng Shimrah was rejected during scrutiny on January 22 as the Form B submitted by AS Arthur said that the 'Notice in Form B given earlier in favour of Mr Aleng Shimrah as party's approved candidate is hereby rescinded".

This is a clear case of the Congress goofing up, they said adding report that Shimrah's paper has been rejected should not be seen as the fault of the intending candidate.

They further said Congress could have asked Aleng to step aside if it had wanted, but by getting his nomination paper rejected, it was an insult on him.

The fault lies with the Congress and not Shimrah, they said and questioned why the double crossing.