Election of BJP MP Kripanath Mallah to Lok Sabha challenged before Gauhati High Court

The Gauhati High Court on Monday issued summons to Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Kripanath Mallah in the election petition filed by Congress candidate and Senior Advocate Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury who was defeated in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls [HRA Choudhury v. Kripanath Mallah]..Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi issues summons on the plea which has alleged that Mallah emplyed 'corrupt practices' to win the 2024 general elections from Asaam's Karimganj parliamentary constituency."Heard Shri KP Pathak, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Shri M Dutta, learned counsel for the petitioner, who has instituted this petition under Section 80 read with Sections 80A and 81 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 whereby the election of the respondent no. 1 from No. 7 Karimganj Parliamentary Constituency, Assam, 2024 has been put to challenge. Issue summons. Let steps be taken by registered post with A/D. Steps be taken within 2 working days," the Court ordered..Mallah had defeated Choudhury by a margin of 18,360 votes, the difference being 1.6 percent .In his petition, Choudhury has alleged that Mallah committed multiple 'corrupt practices' both while campaigning as well as on the day of elections. As per the plea, Mallah was involved in widespread rigging and booth capturing, which included intimidating voters through undue Influence and bribery..There was booth capturing across 47 polling stations, which constitutes almost double the number of votes than the margin between the 2 candidates. He has also alleged that several complaints were made to the election agent as well as the Election Commission of India (ECI) but nothing was done.Choudhury has also raised the issue regarding the integrity of the voting process as ECI had stated in its voter turnout data that 11,36,538 votes were polled which after adding postal ballots totaled to 11,43,796 votes. However, on the date of counting, total number of votes counted was 11,47,607, thereby resulting in an unexplained additional 3,811 votes having been counted..The Court will next hear the matter on next August 19..The petition was filed through the office of advocates M Dutta, AM Ahmed, MK Hussain with assistance from advocate Dayaar Singla..[Read Order]