Nagpur, April 18:
The Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench on Thursday granted notice to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in response to a poll petition questioning his victory from the Nagpur South West assembly constituency during the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections. This notice, issued by Justice Pravin S. Patil, is set to be responded to by May 8, 2025
The petition has been filed by Congress leader Prafulla Vinodrao Gudadhe, who contested and lost to Fadnavis with a vote difference of 39,710 votes. Represented by advocates Pavan Dahat and AB Moon, Gudadhe accused Fadnavis of election procedural corrupt practices, asking the High Court to deem Fadnavis’ “win” null and void.
On Thursday, Justice Patil took up the plea in his chamber and, after considering the submissions, issued a notice to the chief minister. Although Fadnavis is not required to personally appear before the court on the next date, his legal representative must present the defense and respond to the allegations outlined in the petition.
According to the petitioners, several mandatory provisions of the election process were not adhered to during the assembly polls held in November 2024. These alleged irregularities form the basis of the plea seeking to nullify Fadnavis’ electoral victory.
The 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections saw a sweeping win for the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The alliance secured a total of 230 seats in the 288-member house. The BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena and NCP secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Following the decisive win, Fadnavis was appointed the Chief Minister while Shinde and Pawar were sworn in as deputies.
Along with the notice issued to Fadnavis, the High Court has also summoned BJP MLAs Mohan Mate (Nagpur West) and Kirtikumar Bhangdia (Chimur), who are facing similar election petitions for judicial scrutiny of their electoral wins.
The court is expected to take up the matter for further hearing on May 8, when responses from all respondents will be reviewed.
