Election of alliance MPs challenged in HC
Wednesday, 02/07/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140702/punjab.htm#7
Chandigarh : The election of all six SAD-BJP Members of Parliament , including that of Union Minister Harsimrat Badal, was today challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In separate petitions, directions have been sought for setting aside the election of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Vinod Khanna, SS Ghubaya, Vijay Sampla, RS Brahmpura and PS Chandumajra for corrupt poll practices. The petitions have been filed before the election branch, which will place these before the appropriate Bench.
Challenging Harsimrat's election from Bathinda, Navjot Singh of Dabwali Dhab in Muktsar argued that she was liable to be disqualified under the People's Representation Act. He said: "PTC News and Fastway Cable TV Network ran the election campaign of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP candidates in Punjab in general and that of Harsimrat Kaur Badal in particular.
“Right from the day of filing nomination papers, the returned candidate-respondent was projected as a messiah for the Bathinda parliamentary constituency… The programmes and even news were specially designed and telecast to further the election prospects of the returned candidate”. He alleged that Harsimrat had “got” election advertisements telecast on TV channels “using the sacred religious symbols of the Sikh religion”. The “symbol” of the national flag too was used to woo the voters.
Citing examples, the petitioner said that in the advertisement that claimed “kare kamm lok bhalai de Akali-BJP sarkar” (The SAD-BJP Government works for the people's good), pictures of the Golden Temple and Nihangs holding the Nishan Sahib were shown. "As such, the respondent used religious symbols to appeal to the Sikh voters," he argued. He said Harsimrat had spent more than Rs 1.05 crore on her election, which was beyond the EC limit.
Vijay Sampla
Seeking the setting aside of his election from the Hoshiarpur (SC) constituency on the BJP ticket, voter Inderpal Singh claimed he too had got election advertisements telecast on TV channels “using sacred religious symbols of the Sikh religion." He argued that the prescribed expenditure limit was Rs 70 lakh. “However, the returned candidate had spent Rs 74, 07,193. Therefore, his election is liable to be set aside".
Ranjit Singh Brahmpura
Voter Harminder Singh challenged his election from Khadoor Sahib on the SAD ticket on similar grounds. “The returned candidate has committed the corrupt practice of not filing the true and correct account of the election expenses,” he argued.
Sher Singh Ghubaya
Challenging his election from Ferozepur on the SAD ticket, voter Bhupinder Singh alleged: “The respondent has shown a total amount of Rs. 45, 99, 995 as his election expenditure, but has not shown/ included an amount of Rs 17,60,000.”
Prem Singh Chandumajra
Challenging his election as the SAD candidate from Anandpur Sahib, Harbhag Singh said: "The returned candidate has committed a corrupt practice by failing to lodge a true and correct account of his election expenditure. He has shown a total amount of Rs 58, 69,469 as his election expenditure. But he has not shown/ included another Rs 8 lakh."
Vinod Khanna
His election from Gurdaspur has been challenged by Neeraj Salhotra . “He has shown only Rs 3, 03,063 as election expenses on a rally and deliberately concealed the remaining amount of Rs 20, 16,137 spent by him," he has alleged.
