Allahabad HC issues notice on petition to cancel Meerapur by-poll

AGRA: The Allahabad high court issued notices to 15 respondents, including BJP-backed RLD candidate Mithlesh Pal, in connection with a petition challenging the Meerapur assembly by-election held in November last year.
The case was filed by Sanjeev Kumar, whose nomination to contest the polls was rejected by the returning officer (SDM) of Jansath on the grounds of an allegedly incorrect nomination form. Kumar contends that his nomination was valid and claims that while his form was dismissed, Mithlesh Pal's nomination was accepted despite being allegedly incorrect.
Kumar said that his complaints were ignored, leaving him no choice but to approach the HC. The court, after admitting the petition, summoned all 15 respondents, including MLA Mithlesh Pal, the SDM of Jansath, and all candidates who contested the by-poll. They were directed to appear before the court on May 7.
A copy of the court order accessed by TOI states, "This election petition questions the election of the returned candidate Smt. Mithlesh Pal as Legislator from the Assembly seat of 16-Meerapur, district Muzaffarnagar, a Legislative Assembly Constituency of Uttar Pradesh, being null and void. A further prayer has been made to hold a fresh election to the seat in question of the Legislative Assembly. Let notices be issued to the respondent No. 1, Smt. Mithlesh Pal, and other 14 respondents by ordinary as well as registered post in terms of Rule 6 of Chapter XV-A of the Allahabad high court Rules, 1952, returnable by 07.05.2025. Publication be also made in terms of Clause (b) of Rule 6 of Chapter XV-A of the Rules. The respondents shall appear on the next date fixed and shall file objections, if any."
It should be noted that Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Mithlesh Pal won the Meerapur assembly by-poll in Muzaffarnagar, defeating a fractured opposition amid allegations of voter intimidation and police high-handedness during polling. Pal secured 83,552 votes, winning by a margin of approximately 30,000 votes.
The by-poll, which was necessitated after RLD’s Chandan Chauhan vacated the seat upon being elected to the Lok Sabha from Bijnor earlier this year, saw intense competition, with the Muslim vote bank divided among four candidates from SP, BSP, Azad Samaj Party, and AIMIM. While SP’s Sumbul Rana garnered 53,425 votes, ASP’s Zahid Husain trailed with 22,419 votes, AIMIM’s Arshad Rana (18,867), and BSP’s Shah Nazar (3,183).