BJP leaders move HC for quashing election of Kejriwal, Bharti

New Delhi, Jan 21: Two

leaders on Tuesday moved the

seeking quashing of election of Chief Minister

and Law Minister

for allegedly spending beyond the statutory limit of Rs 14 lakh to influence voters.

Former Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta filed the petition against Kejriwal who was his rival from the New Delhi constituency, while former city Mayor Arti Mehra moved the court against Bharti, who had defeated her from Malviya Nagar constituency in the 2013 Assembly polls.

They sought that the election of the two AAP leaders be declared "null and void" alleging that Kejriwal and Bharti had indulged in corrupt practices and incurred huge expenditure of nearly Rs 94.80 lakh during campaigning by organising a rock show "Jeet Ki Gunj, Vote for Change" on November 23, 2013 at Jantar Mantar, after filing their poll nomination. "

...The total actual expenses incurred by the Aam Admi Party on the account of concert is Rs 94.80 lakh which has been highly underestimated by the respondent (Kejriwal) and the Aam Admi Party as Rs. 14.72 lakh," Gupta said in his petition filed by advocate Ajay Digpaul. Similar allegations were made by Mehra against the Law Minister.

"Kejriwal has influenced/solicited the voters by such massive concert, thereby affecting the outcome of the election. "By indulging in such corrupt practices and electoral offences, he has flouted the mandates of the Constitution and has acted contrary to the democratic principles and the concept of free and fair election process as enshrined in the Constitution and the Representation of People Act, 1951," the petitions alleged.

They accused both AAP leaders of having violated the Model Code of Conduct issued by the Election Commission of India, the provisions of the Representation of People Act and also the principles of the Constitution regarding free and fair elections. They said that many prominent singers and Bollywood personalities performed at the event and all of them charged Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, which was allegedly paid by Kejriwal.

The petitions also said that the concert was advertised through newspapers, TV and radio to attract voters. Elaborate arrangements were put in place and the programme was attended by more than 20,000 people, they added.

PTI