Bombay HC gives Ravindra Waikar 4 weeks to respond to election challenge

The Bombay High Court has granted Ravindra Waikar, a leader from the Eknath Shinde faction, four weeks to respond to a petition filed by Amol Kirtikar of Shiv Sena (UBT). Kirtikar's petition, submitted on July 16, challenges Waikar's election victory in the Mumbai North-West constituency during the recent Lok Sabha polls, where he lost by a narrow margin of 48 votes. Kirtikar is seeking to have Waikar's election declared null and void and to be recognized as the duly elected candidate. Kirtikar's plea highlights discrepancies during the vote counting process, claiming serious lapses by election officials that materially affected the results. He has requested a recount of the votes, asserting that the returning officer exhibited "high-handed hastiness and palpable arbitrariness" during the counting. Additionally, Kirtikar has asked the court to summon video recordings of the counting process to support his claims. This is not the first challenge to Waikar's election; another petition was filed by Bharat Shah from the Hindu Samaj Party, who also contested in the same constituency. Shah's case was heard by a different bench, which indicated that he would need to file an official election petition for further consideration. The Bombay High Court has scheduled the next hearing for October 3, where Waikar is expected to present his response to Kirtikar's allegations. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the legitimacy of Waikar's election and the political landscape in the region.