Shimla, July 25
The Himachal Pradesh High Court would hold its next hearing regarding the petition challenging the election of Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan on August 6. The petition, filed by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, was listed for hearing before the single judge bench of Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua.
Singhvi’s petition disputes the election results, which were determined through a slip system after the voting ended in a tie. On the other hand MP Harsh Mahajan, the winning candidate, has called for the dismissal of the petition, arguing that the Election Commission was not named as a respondent, rendering the petition invalid.
Also read: Legal battle ensues over Rajya Sabha election outcome in HimachalÂ
Singhvi contends that the legal process was not adhered to during the election, leading to BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan’s victory. Both candidates received 34 votes each in the Rajya Sabha election. Following the tie, a lottery system was used, and Mahajan was declared the winner.
In the petition Singjvi challenged the method used to declare the winner terming it flawed and legally incorrect. He has filed the petition to annul the election results and demand a new election for the seat.
Also read :Himachal Pradesh High Court grants Harsh Mahajan one week to respond to Singhvi’s petitionÂ
The Rajya Sabha election on February 27 saw six rebel Congress MLAs and three independent MLAs vote against Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The result was a tie, with both candidates securing 34 votes in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly. The winner was decided by drawing a name from a slip, which resulted in Mahajan’s victory.
Singhvi, represented by Advocate Neeraj Gupta, has challenged the fairness of the lottery system in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, seeking to have the election results overturned and a re-election held for the Rajya Sabha seat.
The court would continue to hear arguments on this matter in the upcoming session.
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