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BJP leader and former Union minister Narayan Rane has filed an intervention application (IA) opposing the election petition (EP) filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vinayak Raut, who challenged Rane’s election from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency in Maharashtra.
The IA, filed through advocate Satish Maneshinde, seeks “summary dismissal” of Raut’s plea as there is absence of material facts and particulars. Raut’s plea, filed through advocate Asim Sarode, had alleged that Rane had won the election through “fraudulent means”.
The IA however alleged that there are defects in the EP and states that the allegations levelled in the EP are entirely vague and does not mention any material particulars with respect to the names of the persons involved who were allegedly “distributing money”.
The EP is required to set forth full particulars of any corrupt practice including all the names of the parties involved in the alleged corrupt practice and the date and place of commission of such alleged practice, which as a matter of fact is entirely lacking in the petition, alleged Rane.
Raut’s plea seeks that the results from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency be declared void and fresh elections be declared. Raut’s plea also sought directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct fresh/re-election for the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat.
As an interim measure, the plea seeks that a direction to restrain Rane from continuing as the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg MP be passed.
The election in this parliamentary constituency was held on May 7 and the counting was done on June 4. Rane had won the seat with 4,48,514 votes while Raut had received 4,00,656 votes. Raut had lost the election by a margin of 47,858 votes.
The plea pointed to various incidences to state that there had been violations of the model code of conduct and the Representation of People Act and the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashra did not take any action.
The plea stated that Rane’s son Nitesh Rane who is an MLA from the area, had given a speech where he had threatened to look at the areas which are voting for his father and not voting and then budgets would be allocated accordingly. However, this speech was given when Rane’s candidature from the area was not even declared by the party.
Raut states that he had complained to the Election Commission which did not find anything wrong with it. Raut claims that this attitude of the authority only encouraged the Ranes and BJP party workers to pressurise voters further.
Raut’s election petition and Rane’s intervention application will now be heard by the bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal on January 16, 2025.
