‘Illegal practices’: BJP councillor Dinesh Yadav’s Manesar Municipal Corporation poll win challenged in court

Gurgaon: The election of a BJP candidate in Manesar Municipal Corporation (MCM) has been challenged in a city court. Ward number 5 winner Dinesh Yadav — who defeated Independent candidate Rahul Yadav by 75 votes — has been accused, by the latter, of illegal practices and casting votes of deceased persons in the election to secure victory. The MCM election was conducted on March 2 and the results were declared on March 12. Civil judge (junior division) Vishal on Wednesday issued notices to the state election commission, district administration and all the candidates, including the winner, from ward number 5. The next date of hearing is scheduled for April 3. Meanwhile, Dinesh Yadav downplayed the allegations against him, saying "people gave their mandate".Rahul Yadav, a practising doctor who entered the election to bring change, said, "On the polling day, it came to our knowledge that Dinesh Yadav, the BJP candidate, along with his agents and family members, were involved in casting fake votes of deceased persons and it was also revealed that more than 70 votes of deceased persons were cast in the election of ward no. 5."Dinesh Yadav secured 643 votes, Rahul Yadav got 568 votes, Gyan Chand received 338 votes, Inderjeet 266 votes, Deepak Kumar 254 votes and Ashok Fauji got 223 votes while seven votes went to NOTA. Rahul claimed to report the matter to the election officer present at the spot, who assured to address "such corrupt practices and irregularities". "More than 30-40 persons cast double or triple votes as well. We reported the matter to the police and they assured us to take action," Rahul said.Besides, the candidate and his family members allegedly distributed imported wines, gifts, etc., the day before the polling to allure the voters by bribing them. "I lost the election by just 75 votes mainly because 70-80 votes of deceased persons were cast by fake individuals to support the winner," Rahul said.The petition demands the cancellation of the election and restrains the winner from holding the office of councillor and conducting any administrative work until the outcome of the petition.

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