Was Fadnavis Elected Legally? Bombay HC Issues Notice for Petition Challenging Election

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court issued a notice to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, addressing a petition challenging his victory in the 2024 Nagpur South West assembly election.

The petition, filed by Congress candidate Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe in January, alleges procedural irregularities and corrupt practices during the November 2024 polls. Gudadhe, who lost to Fadnavis by 39,710 votes, has urged the court to declare the chief minister’s win "null and void."

Justice Pravin Patil, hearing the case in his chamber, issued the summons, returnable on May 8, as confirmed by Gudadhe’s lawyer, Pavan Dahat. On that date, Fadnavis’ legal team is expected to appear and respond to the allegations.

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Gudadhe’s legal representatives, Dahat and AB Moon, claim that several mandatory electoral provisions were violated during the polling process, undermining the integrity of the election.

The 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections saw a dominant performance by the Mahayuti coalition, which secured 230 of the 288 seats, paving the way for Fadnavis to assume the chief minister’s role. However, the petition casts a shadow over his electoral success in Nagpur South West, a key constituency.

In related developments, the High Court also issued notices to two other BJP legislators—MLA Mohan Mate from Nagpur West and Kirtikumar Bhangdia from Chimur in Chandrapur district—over similar election petitions challenging their 2024 victories.

These cases highlight ongoing legal scrutiny of the recent assembly polls, with the outcomes potentially impacting Maharashtra’s political landscape.

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