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The Himachal Pradesh High Court has issued a notice to Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, seeking her response to a plea challenging her victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The petition was filed by a former forest department employee, Harish Negi, who claims his own nomination papers were unjustly rejected, potentially denying him a chance to win the Mandi seat.
According to Negi, he had taken early retirement from his position and submitted the necessary “no dues certificate” from the forest department, along with his nomination papers to the returning officer. However, he was subsequently given a 24-hour deadline to also produce no dues certificates from the electricity, water, and telephone departments. Despite complying with this additional requirement, Negi alleges that the returning officer still refused to accept his nomination papers.
In his petition, Negi argues that he was unfairly disadvantaged by the returning officer's actions. He maintains that he would have been a viable candidate and potentially won the election had his nomination papers been accepted. Therefore, he seeks the court to annul the election results, citing the alleged unfairness and prejudice he experienced. It's worth noting that Kangana Ranaut, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), won the Mandi seat by a significant margin, defeating Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh by 74,755 votes.
This case highlights the complexities and potential for controversy surrounding election processes, particularly when it comes to the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers. The court's decision to seek Ranaut's response signifies the seriousness of the allegations raised by Negi and will likely lead to further legal proceedings. The outcome of this case could have broader implications for future elections, potentially influencing how returning officers handle similar situations and the interpretation of election rules.
Source: Himachal Pradesh High Court seeks Kangana Ranaut response to plea challenging her Lok Sabha election