The by-polls for Pharenda Assembly segment of Maharajganj district would be conducted as per it’s earlier schedule after the Apex Court, on move of the Election Commission, had stayed the orders of the High Court, on Monday. Earlier, High Court had stayed the election process on a writ filed by Bajrang Bhadhur Singh, who was disqualified as MlA from the said seat in wake of an enquiry conducted by lokayukata, Justice (retd) NK Mehrotra. Tuesday is the last date for nomination for the by-polls as per the schedule and so far only SP and Congress had announced their candidates.
According to an official communiqué of the Additional Chief Election Officer of the State, Ramakant Pandey, the Commission had filed a SlP against the HC’s decision and on Monday, the Apex Court had stayed the lower court’s order. He claimed that in wake of the above development, the elections in Pharenda would be completed as per schedule announced earlier.
Sources said that though the EC has decided to appeal against the stay in the Apex court and information of the stay was also given to the EC in Delhi office but no candidate has filed his/her nominations so far. It may be mentioned that, the Allahabad High Court on last Friday ordered a stay in the Pharenda by-polls and served a notice to lokayukta, State Government and the Election Commission. The next case of hearing has been fixed for April 21. EC is conducting elections after Pharendra seat felt vacant following disqualification of sitting BJP MlA, Bajrang Bahadur Singh, who was found indulged in government contacts and that too in his name during probe conducted by lokayukata Justice (retd) NK Mehrotra.
Earlier the EC also announced schedule for by-poll in Rasra Assembly constituency of Balia but the Apex Court put a stay on election proceedings in that constituency. The Rasra seat also fell vacant after the sitting BSP MlA, Uma Shankar Singh, was disqualified following his involvement in government contracts. Both Bajrang and Uma Shankar were held guilty during probe by NK Mehrotra.
Interestingly, both ruling Samajwadi Party and the Congress already announced their candidates for the by-elections to Charkhari and Pharenda assembly seats on Thursday minute before HC put a stay on one of the polls. SP announced the names of Urmila Rajput and Vinod Tewari from Charkhari and Pharenda assembly seats respectively, while on the other hand, Congress has decided to field Virendra Chaudhary from Pharenda seat in Maharajganj district and Ramjiwan Yadav from Charkhari seat of Mahoba. By-polls to Charkhari was held following the disqualification of sitting MlA Kaptan Singh Rajput of SP. He was disqualified after being convicted by court in a murder case.
The nomination process for the by-polls already started from last Tuesday 17 and March 24 will be the last date for filing of the nominations. Scrutiny of the nomination papers would be done on March 25 while candidates can withdraw their nominations till March 27. The polling will be held on April 11 while the counting of votes would be taken up on April 15.