A leader from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction), Amol Kirtikar, has moved the Bombay High Court to contest the election of Ravindra Waikar from the Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena. Waikar won the Mumbai North-West constituency seat in the recent Lok Sabha elections by a slim margin of 48 votes.
Key Points of the Petition
- Alleged Irregularities:
Kirtikar’s petition alleges several electoral malpractices, including:
- The use of mobile phones within the vote counting area.
- Impersonators casting votes.
- Denial of the opportunity for a vote recount despite a narrow margin of victory.
- Claims of Misuse:
The petition claims that there was a systematic effort to manipulate the election results in favor of Waikar. It also suggests that the election officials ignored procedural safeguards that would have ensured a fair recount, particularly given the close contest. - Legal Basis:
The petition seeks to nullify Waikar’s election victory, arguing that the alleged irregularities materially affected the election outcome. Kirtikar aims to be declared the rightful winner of the constituency.
Implications
This legal challenge is part of ongoing tensions between the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions of Shiv Sena, which have seen various legal battles since the party split. The outcome of this case could have significant political implications, especially in terms of legitimacy and control within the Shiv Sena.