AAP's Bharti Challenges Bansuri Swaraj's Election Win in Delhi High Court

AAP leader Somnath Bharti has moved the Delhi High Court challenging BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj's election victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, citing alleged corrupt practices. The plea highlights irregularities, including voter manipulation and unethical campaigning involving former AAP minister Raaj Kumar Anand. Justice Manmeet PS Arora will hear the case on July 22.

AAP leader Somnath Bharti on Saturday approached the Delhi High Court challenging the election victory of BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj in the Lok Sabha polls 2024, citing alleged corrupt practices on multiple fronts.

Justice Manmeet PS Arora is set to hear the election petition on July 22, marking the legal query into the election results.

According to the plea, Bharti secured 3,74,815 votes, while Swaraj obtained 4,53,185 votes, as per the returning officer's official count.

The petition filed under Section 80 and 81 of the Representation of the People Act, claims that Swaraj, her election agent, and other individuals, with her consent, engaged in corrupt practices during the election period from the New Delhi Parliamentary Constituency held on May 25, 2024.

The plea further alleged that former AAP minister Raaj Kumar Anand, initially a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate, was strategically set up by Swaraj's party to detract from Bharti's vote share and later joined the BJP.

On Election Day, May 5, 2024, Bharti observed that booth agents displayed pamphlets containing Swaraj's ballot number, symbol, and a photo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, steering voters towards ballot no.1. Despite reporting these activities to the returning officer, no action was taken, the plea claims.

(With inputs from agencies.)