Eight MVA Candidates Challenge Assembly Election Results in Bombay HC Over Alleged Irregularities

Nagpur: Eight candidates from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), who were defeated in the Maharashtra Assembly elections last November, have filed petitions in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, contesting the legitimacy of their opponents' victories.

The petitioners—Praful Gudadhe, Yashomati Thakur, Santosh Singh Rawat, Satish Warjukar, Girish Panday, Shekhar Shende, Dr. Rajendra Shingne, and Subhash Dhote—have alleged widespread irregularities, including manipulation of electronic voting machines (EVMs), procedural lapses, and electoral roll tampering. They are seeking the annulment of the election results and a fresh poll in the disputed constituencies.

Key Allegations in Petitions:

1. EVM Malfunctions: Accusations of faulty machines, delays in replacements, and improper sealing of EVMs.
   
   
2. Electoral Roll Manipulation: Claims of voter exclusion, particularly among women, minorities, and first-time voters.
   
   
3. Procedure Violations: Allegations of mishandling Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) records, lack of CCTV footage, and deviations from Election Commission guidelines.
   
   
4. Transparency Issues: Complaints about refusal to provide essential polling data, such as Form 17-C Part I and II, required to verify results.

Constituency-Specific Grievances:

• Nagpur Southwest: Congress candidate Praful Gudadhe has contested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's win, alleging procedural discrepancies.
  
  
• Teosa (Amravati): Former minister Yashomati Thakur has claimed inconsistencies in the counting process and demanded scrutiny of EVM logs and VVPAT records.
  
  
• Ballarpur (Chandrapur): Santosh Singh Rawat cited manipulation of electoral rolls and exclusion of key voter groups.
  
  
• Chimur (Chandrapur): Satish Warjukar highlighted delays in EVM replacement and negligence during polling.
  
  
• Nagpur South: Girish Panday alleged tampering with EVMs and improper sealing of machines.
• Wardha: Shekhar Shende pointed to irregularities in voter list management and inequitable access to voter slips.
  
  
• Sindkhed Raja (Buldhana): Dr. Rajendra Shingne claimed complaints of EVM malfunctions were ignored by poll officials.
  
  
• Rajura (Chandrapur): Subhash Dhote raised identical concerns, citing procedural lapses and transparency failures.

The petitions, filed under relevant sections of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, seek the preservation of electoral records, including EVM logs and video footage, to ensure transparency during the proceedings.

The Bombay High Court is expected to begin hearings later this month. Respondents named in the petitions include the Chief Election Commissioner, Maharashtra State Election Office, and district collectors from the respective constituencies.

This legal battle underscores the need for stringent adherence to electoral protocols to maintain public confidence in democratic processes.