Fadnavis Summoned by HC in Plea Challenging his 2024 Election Win
In a significant development, the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench has issued summons to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in response to a petition challenging his 2024 election win from the Nagpur South-West Assembly seat. The petition was filed by Congress leader Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe, who had lost to Fadnavis by a margin of over 39,000 votes.
Gudadhe, who is the Congress candidate from the Nagpur South-West Assembly seat, has requested the court to declare the election result “null and void” on the grounds of alleged irregularities and malpractices during the poll process. He has also sought a direction to the Election Commission of India to conduct a fresh election in the constituency.
The summons issued by the High Court to Fadnavis have sent shockwaves in the political circles of Maharashtra, with many speculating about the implications of this development on the current political scenario in the state. Fadnavis, who has been the Chief Minister of Maharashtra since 2014, has been facing several challenges to his leadership in recent times, including a rebellion by some of his own party leaders.
According to the petition filed by Gudadhe, the election process in the Nagpur South-West Assembly seat was marred by several irregularities, including the use of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) without proper verification, lack of transparency in the counting process, and allegations of booth capturing and rigging.
Gudadhe has also alleged that Fadnavis’s election agents and supporters had interfered with the poll process, intimidating voters and tampering with the EVMs. He has claimed that despite these irregularities, the Returning Officer (RO) and other election authorities had failed to take appropriate action, leading to Fadnavis’s victory.
The petition has accused Fadnavis of using his official position and influence to ensure his victory in the election. It has also alleged that the Chief Minister had used his party’s resources and machinery to intimidate voters and manipulate the poll process.
The Bombay High Court’s decision to issue summons to Fadnavis is a significant development in this matter, as it indicates that the court is taking a serious view of the allegations levelled against the Chief Minister. The court’s summons to Fadnavis are expected to be served on him shortly, and he will have to respond to the petition and the allegations made against him.
The political implications of this development are significant, as it could lead to a fresh election in the Nagpur South-West Assembly seat. If Fadnavis’s election is declared null and void, it would be a major embarrassment for him and his party, and could potentially lead to a change in the political landscape of Maharashtra.
The Congress party, which has been struggling to regain its lost ground in Maharashtra, sees this development as a major opportunity to embarrass the ruling BJP and its Chief Minister. The party has been vocal in its criticism of the state government and the Election Commission, and has been demanding a fresh election in the Nagpur South-West Assembly seat.
On the other hand, the ruling BJP has been quick to dismiss the allegations made by Gudadhe, and has accused the Congress party of trying to create political instability in the state. The party has claimed that Fadnavis’s election was won fair and square, and that the allegations of irregularities are baseless and motivated.
The fate of Fadnavis’s Chief Ministership hangs in the balance, as the Bombay High Court’s decision to issue summons to him has sent shockwaves in the political circles of Maharashtra. The court’s decision to take cognizance of the petition and issue summons to Fadnavis is a significant development, and has raised several questions about the integrity of the election process in the state.
The case is now expected to be heard by the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench, which will decide whether to accept or reject Gudadhe’s petition. If the petition is accepted, it could lead to a fresh election in the Nagpur South-West Assembly seat, which would be a major embarrassment for Fadnavis and his party.
The political implications of this development are significant, and it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds. One thing is certain, however – the Bombay High Court’s decision to issue summons to Fadnavis has set the cat among the pigeons, and the political landscape of Maharashtra is likely to change significantly in the coming days.
