Modi’s election: HC to resume process for verdict today

The Allahabad high court will resume on Tuesday the process for delivery of its judgement on a petition challenging the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Varanasi parliamentary seat in 2014. The process began on Monday but could not be completed due to a paucity of time. Congress MLA Ajay Rai has filed the election petition against Modi. Rai unsuccessfully contested from Varanasi in the Lok Sabha polls against Modi and finished third.

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad high court on Tuesday will resume the process for delivery of its judgement on a petition challenging the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Varanasi parliamentary seat in 2014.

The dictation of the judgement began on Monday but could not be completed due to a paucity of time.

Congress MLA Ajay Rai has filed the election petition against Modi. Rai unsuccessfully contested from Varanasi in the Lok Sabha polls against Modi and finished third. Rai had requested the court to declare the election of Modi as Varanasi MP null and void. The petitioner alleged that Modi had adopted corrupt practices to win the poll.

Rai based his petition on two grounds — improper acceptance of Modi’s nomination papers and excess poll expenditure.

Satya Pal Jain, additional solicitor general of India, had appeared on behalf of Modi. He had said the requirement for disclosure of expenditure and assets was fulfilled and no ‘material fact’ was concealed by Modi in his nomination papers. After hearing arguments on the election petition on November 24, justice Vikram Nath had said the court would pronounce its order on December 5.

In his affidavit, Rai alleged that in violation of a Supreme Court order, Modi had left those columns blank that sought information about his wife Jashodaben’s PAN card and details of her income.

He claimed though the Election Commission had laid down that a candidate should not spend more than Rs 70 lakh on campaigning, Modi spent crores of rupees in the run-up to the polls.Rai said T-shirts, caps and handkerchiefs bearing the name and image of Modi were distributed among the people in violation of the model code of conduct.Rai is an MLA from Pindra assembly segment of Varanasi district. Modi had defeated his nearest rival Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party by a margin of nearly 3.71 lakh votes in Varanasi.

Modi also won the Vadodara seat by a record margin of 5.70 lakh votes but vacated it and retained Varanasi instead.

Rai had moved the court in June 2014, less than a month after the result was announced.