New Delhi, 07 August (H.S.): The Supreme Court has upheld the Chhattisgarh High Court’s decision refusing to dismiss an election petition filed against former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at the preliminary stage. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant dismissed Baghel’s plea challenging the High Court’s order.

The election petition is related to the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. In the election, then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel defeated BJP’s Vijay Baghel from the Patan Assembly constituency by securing 95,438 votes.

Vijay Baghel had filed an election petition before the Chhattisgarh High Court alleging that Bhupesh Baghel had organised a rally or roadshow during the 48-hour silence period mandated under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act. The alleged violation took place on November 15-16, 2023, beginning at 5 pm on the day before polling.

Bhupesh Baghel had challenged the Chhattisgarh High Court’s interim order dated June 15, through which the court had rejected his plea seeking dismissal of the election petition at the initial stage.

The Supreme Court, however, declined to interfere with the High Court’s order and allowed the election petition proceedings to continue.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar