Prithviraj files case against Moirang MLA Shanti
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 22 2022:
Former Moirang AC MLA M Prithviraj has filed an election petition against incumbent MLA Thongam Shanti at the Manipur High Court on Friday, challenging the latter's win from Moirang AC on NPP ticket in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election.
Mairembam Prithviraj (43) s/o (L) Manindra of Moirang Kiyam Leikai filed the Election Petition No 2 of 2022 in the Court of Justice Sanjay Kumar, mentioning Thongam Shanti (61) s/o (L) Th Ibohal of Moirang Kiyam Leikai and Pukhrem Saratchandra (73) s/o (L) P Koiremba of Phairembam Leikai Moirang as respondents.
According to the petition, when Shanti filed his nomination paper for the 12th Assembly election, he failed to provide exact details of agricultural land and private properties purchased under his and his wife's names, along with exact details of sources of income of both husband and wife.
Despite this, the Returning Officer of 27-Moi-rang AC accepted the nomination paper filed by Shanti, in violation of the rules.
As such, the votes secured by him (Shanti) are invalid and void, considering he should not have been allowed to contest the polls and his candidature was invalid, the petitioned mentioned, adding that only two candidates should have contested the election from the constituency.
Additionally, the petitioner received 12,206 votes in the polls and should be declared as the winner.
If the nomination paper of respondent no 1 had been rejected, the petitioner would have won the polls with the highest number of votes.
As respondent no 1 contested the polls illegally, the voters were left confused while choosing their representative, maintained the petition.
After listening to the submission of the petitioner's counsel advocate Ajay Pebam, the Court directed for notices to be issued to both respondents and further directed them to respond within a week, while fixing the next hearing on May 6 .