SP corporator Lalit sworn in after court order in UP

SP leader Lalit Kishore Tiwari was finally sworn in as a corporator at the Lucknow Municipal Corporation on Sunday, days after the Allahabad High Court froze Mayor Sushma Kharkwal’s powers over a five-month delay in administering the oath.

Mayor Sushma Kharkwal said, “As per the High Court’s directions, the oath-taking ceremony was held today related to Ward Number 73, Faizullaganj.” 

Explaining the delay, she said, “Our programme was already fixed a month ago. Suddenly, on ‘Bada Mangal’, I fell ill and was admitted to the Command Hospital. I was discharged from the hospital yesterday evening, and today we administered the oath to Lalit Kishore Tiwari.” The dispute relates to the Ward Number 73 Faizullaganj municipal election in 2023. 

In the local polls, BJP candidate Pradeep Kumar Shukla defeated SP candidate Lalit Kishor Tiwari. 

Later, Tiwari alleged that the BJP candidate provided incorrect information regarding his marital status in the nomination papers’ affidavit and demanded the cancellation of his election. 

The court, in its December 19, 2025, order, annulled Shukla’s election and declared the runner-up, Tiwari, as the elected councillor of ward number 73. 

The matter subsequently went from the High Court to the Supreme Court. 

Shukla later challenged the High Court order before the Supreme Court through a special leave petition, but the plea was dismissed on May 20 after his counsel sought permission to withdraw it.

A bench of Justices Alok Mathur and SQH Rizvi had passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Tiwari, who is also an advocate of the High Court and general secretary of the Oudh Bar Association.

The High Court had earlier directed that if the oath was not administered within a week, the mayor, district magistrate and municipal commissioner would have to appear personally before the court.

During the hearing, the bench was informed that the oath had still not been administered.

Following this, the court expressed displeasure and ordered the suspension of the mayor’s administrative and financial powers until compliance with its order.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on May 29.