AAP Leader Somnath Bharti Challenges Bansuri Swaraj’s Election Win in Delhi High Court

Delhi, July 21: On Saturday, AAP leader Somnath Bharti approached the Delhi High Court to challenge BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj’s election win in the Lok Sabha polls 2024, citing allegations of corrupt practices.

Justice Manmeet PS Arora is scheduled to hear Bharti’s election petition on July 22.

According to the petition, Bharti secured 3,74,815 votes, while Swaraj received 4,53,185 votes as per the returning officer. Both contested from the New Delhi Parliamentary Constituency, with Swaraj declared the winner. Bharti’s petition, filed under Sections 80 and 81 of the Representation of the People Act, challenges Swaraj’s election on grounds of alleged corrupt practices by her, her election agent, and others with her consent during the 2024 Lok Sabha election held on May 25, 2024.

The petition alleges that former AAP minister Raaj Kumar Anand, despite being a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate, was allegedly set up by Swaraj’s party to undermine Bharti. Anand, who was active in Bharti’s campaign until April 9, resigned from AAP on April 10 and contested the election on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket to allegedly split the vote share in Swaraj’s favor. On July 10, Anand joined the BJP.

On election day, May 25, 2024, Bharti claims he observed booth agents for Swaraj distributing pamphlets displaying her ballot number, photo, election symbol, and a photo of PM Narendra Modi, urging voters to vote for ballot number 1. This act, Bharti claims, qualifies as a corrupt practice and was reported to the returning officer but allegedly ignored.

Key Points:

• AAP Leader Somnath Bharti challenges BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj’s election win.
• Petition filed under Sections 80 and 81 of the Representation of the People Act.
• Bharti secured 3,74,815 votes; Swaraj got 4,53,185 votes.
• Allegations of corrupt practices involving booth agents and campaign strategies.
• Justice Manmeet PS Arora to hear the petition on July 22.
• Accusations against Raaj Kumar Anand for allegedly aiding Swaraj by splitting votes.
• Alleged distribution of pamphlets with ballot numbers, candidate photos, and PM Modi’s photo on election day.