MP HC Cancels Congress MLA’s Election Over Non-Disclosure
9 March 2026 8:01 PM IST9 March 2026 8:01 PM IST
The Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court also declared the BJP candidate Ramniwas Rawat, who was placed second in the by-polls, as elected MLA.
Madhya Pradesh high court. (Facebook)
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh high court on Monday set aside the election of Congress MLA Mukesh Malhotra from the Vijaypur Assembly seat in Sheopur district for failing to disclose pending criminal cases in his nomination during the 2024 by-election.
The Gwalior bench of the high court also declared BJP candidate Ramniwas Rawat, who had finished second in the by-poll, as the duly elected MLA from the constituency.
Malhotra had won the by-election by defeating Rawat by a margin of 7,364 votes.
In its order, the single bench of Justice G.S. Ahluwalia declared Malhotra’s election “null and void” on the ground that he had not disclosed the pending criminal cases against him while filing his nomination papers.
Counsel for Rawat, M.P.S. Raghuvamsi, said the Election Commission would be informed of the court’s verdict.
Rawat had joined the BJP from the Congress shortly before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and was later inducted into the Mohan Yadav cabinet. He stepped down from the ministerial post after losing the Vijaypur by-election.
Malhotra, who had earlier been in the BJP, joined the Congress to contest the by-election from the Vijaypur seat.
Following the court’s order, the BJP’s strength in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly has risen to 164, while the Congress tally has come down to 63.
Malhotra had won the by-election by defeating Rawat by a margin of 7,364 votes.
In its order, the single bench of Justice G.S. Ahluwalia declared Malhotra’s election “null and void” on the ground that he had not disclosed the pending criminal cases against him while filing his nomination papers.
Counsel for Rawat, M.P.S. Raghuvamsi, said the Election Commission would be informed of the court’s verdict.
Rawat had joined the BJP from the Congress shortly before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and was later inducted into the Mohan Yadav cabinet. He stepped down from the ministerial post after losing the Vijaypur by-election.
Malhotra, who had earlier been in the BJP, joined the Congress to contest the by-election from the Vijaypur seat.
Following the court’s order, the BJP’s strength in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly has risen to 164, while the Congress tally has come down to 63.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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