Harsh Dev files petition challenges BJP's Balwant's Win from Chenani

Justice Rajnesh seeks response from ECI, CEC J&K, as well

SRINAGAR: A plea has been filed by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party Leader Harsh Dev Singh challenging the election of BJP's Balwant Singh Mankotia's win from the Chennai constituency in the recently held Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.
In a petition filed at Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Harsh Dev Singh accuses Mankotia of engaging in corrupt election practices. Singh prays that Mankotia's election be declared void and that Singh be declared the elected candidate of Chenani instead.
Justice Rajnesh Oswal of the High Court has sought Mankotia's response and the responses of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the chief electoral officer, and the Jammu and Kashmir government in the matter.
The petitioner has challenged the election of the respondent No. 10 from Chenani Assembly Constituency in the General Assembly Elections of J&K held in October 2024 on the various grounds mentioned in the petition, reads the Coram issued by Justice Rajnesh Oswal of the High Court.
Singh lost the election to BJP’s Balwant Singh Mankotia by 15,611 votes in Assembly elections, the results of which were declared on October 8. Singh, who heads the National Panthers Party (India), is the cousin of Mankotia, who polled 47,990 votes.
Singh's plea added that several voters have given interviews wherein they have stated that they were offered huge cash or were lured in the name of 'sarees and suits' and other freebies.
The matter will be heard next on March 11, 2025.
Senior Additional Advocate General (AAG) Monika Kohli has accepted notice on behalf of the government respondents. Advocate Aseem Kumar Sawhney appeared for the petitioner, Harsh Dev Singh.