The election of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Ravindra Waikal to the 18th Lok Sabha is being challenged in the Bombay High Court in an election suit filed by Amol Kirtikar, who lost to Waikal by just 48 votes.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) candidate Kirtikar is contesting Waikar’s election in the Mumbai North West constituency and has demanded that he be declared the winning candidate instead.
Kirtikar, who lost by just 48 votes, has alleged numerous blunders by election officials, including refusing to allow his application for a recount, allowing the use of mobile phones in the counting area and allowing 333 votes to be cast through impersonation.
“The heavy-handed haste and apparent arbitrariness of the election officials is evident in their total disregard for the provisions of the 2023 Handbook, which provides for the right of a candidate to apply for a second recount, especially if the margin between the first two candidates is narrow. In this case, the margin could not have been closer than one vote.” That’s what the petition states.
The petition, filed through advocate Amit Karande, cited various negligence on the part of the officials and the same was “A systematic effort was made to defeat the election petitioner (Kirtikar) but Kirtikar, despite all difficulties, at the end of counting of EVM votes, secured one vote more than the re-elected candidate whereas the votes submitted were as per Form 17-C (Part I) No. 333,” it said.
The petition states: “There were various obvious and serious errors on the part of the election officials entrusted with carrying out the vote counting, which had a significant impact on the outcome of the election.”
The petitioner therefore seeks that the election of Mr. Waikar be declared invalid.
