Shimla, Aug 24
The arguments in the election petition challenging the outcome of the February 27 Rajya Sabha election in Himachal Pradesh continued on Friday before the bench of Justice Jyotsana Rewal Dua.
The petition, filed by Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, contests his narrow loss to BJP MP Harsh Mahajan.
Prashanto Sen, counsel for Singhvi, began presenting arguments in favor of the petitioner after 3 p.m., focusing on alleged procedural irregularities during the election.
 Sen contended that the lottery system used to break the tie between Singhvi and Mahajan, who each received 34 votes, was improperly applied and violated election norms.
Earlier this week, the court rejected Mahajan’s request to postpone the hearing due to the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Telangana on September 3. Mahajan had argued that Singhvi’s involvement in the Telangana elections could influence the proceedings in the Himachal High Court. However, Justice Rewal Dua dismissed the plea, allowing the case to proceed without delay.
According to senior counsel Neeraj Gupta, former Union Minister and Senior Advocate P. Chidambaram is expected to present further arguments on behalf of Singhvi next Tuesday. Chidambaram’s appearance is anticipated to be a crucial phase in the proceedings, as he will likely address the legal aspects surrounding the tie-breaking process and the fairness of the election outcome.
The petition stems from the February 27 election, where despite Congress holding 40 MLAs, the contest between Singhvi and Mahajan ended in a tie. Singhvi’s petition asserts that the method of declaring Mahajan victorious by lottery was unjust and calls for the court to re-evaluate the election result.
The court’s decision in this matter could have significant implications for the political landscape in Himachal Pradesh, particularly regarding the procedures used in closely contested elections.
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