MVA Candidates Move Bombay HC To Challenge Mahayuti Winning Candidates In Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

Several candidates from Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have approached the Bombay High Court challenging the victory of Mahayuti nominees in recent state Assembly elections.

The petitions have made several allegations including frauds in the voters’ list, lack of transparency by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in providing CCTV footage and election related documents, use of religion seeking votes, distribution of cash and misuse of EVM machines.

Prashant Jagtap from Hadapsar (Pune), Mahesh Kothe of  Solapur City North,  Ajit Gavhane from Bhosari, Pune,  Naresh Manera from Ovala Majiwada, Sunil Chandrakant Bhusara from Vikramgad in Palghar district and Manohar Madhavi from Thane have filed the petitions. 

Manera, a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, has challenged the election victory of Pratap Sarnaik, an NCP (AP) MLA and the current transport minister. The petition has made allegations regarding the EVM-VVPAT system at one polling booth, which allegedly contributed to Sarnaik's victory. The petition has further criticized the overall conduct of the election process.

Madhavi, a Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, has challenged the election victory of BJP's Ganesh Chandra Naik. His plea alleged that both Naik and the Election Commission acted maliciously by allowing duplicate voting entries and the misuse of electoral polls, enabling individuals to vote multiple times during the elections.

The pleas, filed through advocates Asim Sarode, Ajinkya Gaikwad and Shriya Awale, have sought directions to ECI to declare election of respective Mahayuti candidates as “void” and sought it to be set aside. Further, the petitions have sought directions to authorities to permit them to access the denied documents, records including CCTV footage, form 17A and C among others.