HC junks petition challenging BJP MLA’s election from Vav

A single-judge bench of the Gujarat High Court (HC) Wednesday dismissed an election petition that challenged the election of BJP MLA,Shankar Chaudhari from Vav constituency of Banaskantha district,by a man whose nomination as an independent candidate for the constituency was rejected by the Election Commission. The court,presided over by Justice Anant Dave,also imposed Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner for moving a frivolous petition.

The petitioner has been identified as Hasmukhlal Thakkar from Banaskantha district. Thakkar had filled up his nomination form for the Vav constituency during the 2012 Assembly elections. However,Thakkar’s nomination was rejected by the Election Commission. Election was held subsequently and Chaudhari was elected.

Following this,Thakkar moved the election petition before HC under the provisions of the Representation of People Act.

In his petition,Thakkar had made only Chaudhari as the respondent. Chaudhari’s lawyer,Archana Acharya,said that the only ground on which the petitioner had challenged the election of the Vav constituency was that since his nomination was rejected by the Election Commission,it should be declared null and void.