Election of corporator Ashok Damle challenged

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

In connection with an election petition challenging the election of BJP corporator Ashok Dhondiba Damle from Prabhag no. 22-B of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, civil judge (senior division), municipal court, N. H. Vikhe has ordered issuance of notice to the respondents.

What is the petition about?

In the general elections of the municipal corporation held here, BJP candidate Ashok Dhondiba Damle was declared elected from Prabhag no. 22-B. Girish Lute, through adv. Ravindra Gore and adv. S. S. Kere, has challenged Damle’s election by filing an election petition under section 16 of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1949.

The petition states that the nomination form submitted by Ashok Damle does not bear the signature or thumb impression of the proposer. Hence, the decision of the election officer to accept the nomination form is in violation of the election rules. Section 16 of the Act permits a voter to file an election petition against the decision of accepting a nomination form in an improper manner, under which Lute has filed the petition.

Other points in the petition

A pending criminal case (RCC No. 372/2022) against Ashok Damle in the court of the judicial magistrate first class, court no. 14, has not been mentioned in his nomination form.

It has also been alleged in the petition that Damle pressured election officials during postal voting and attempted to influence Hindu voters on religious grounds. Lute has requested that Damle’s election be declared null and void. Adv. Sanket Jadhav is assisting adv. Gore in the matter.