Before it could go to polls in Ramtek, the Congress suffered a setback as the caste validity of its candidate Rashmi Barve was cancelled by the social justice department`s caste verification panel. Ramtek is reserved for the scheduled castes (SC) and hence candidates have to produce valid caste certificates with their nomination papers.

The returning officer of the Ramtek constituency was in the process of nomination scrutiny. The hearing was over but the verdict was expected to come late Thursday night. Barve’s rivals had reached the election office with the state panel’s order. With the scrapping, the Congress had a plan B in the offing. The party is likely to field Barve`s husband if her nomination papers are invalid. Shiv Sena (Shinde) has fielded Raju Parve from this constituency where voting will be held on April 19.