Election petition against Khanapur MLA dismissed

Bangalore, Apr 6 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today dismissed an election petition, filed by a defeated candidate Patil Vaishali Ashok challenging the election of Bidambar Rao Yeshwantrao Patil from Khanapur constituency in the 2004 Assembly elections.

Mr Justice Vishwanath Shetty observed that the contention that the respondent appealed to voters on the basis of community or language or culture could not be considered as pleading of material facts required under the provisions of Representation of the People Act. He struck off the paragraph which did not refer to material facts from the petition, while dismissing the election petition.

Mr Ashok had submitted that while he had obtained 18,747 votes as an independent candidate, Mr Patil (Ind) had won the elections by polling 19,115 votes. Mr Patil was supported and sponsored by the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi and he had taken part in various agitations, demanding the inclusion of Marathi-speaking border areas of Karnataka with Maharashtra.

Mr Patil had filed an application, seeking the dismissal of the election petition on the ground that there was no complete cause of action made out by the petitioner.

The petitioner had not made out any material facts relating to corrupt practices against Mr Patil as stated in the petition.

UNI XR GD LS RAI2129