Imphal: High Court of Manipur Friday declared the election of the present MP (Member of Parliament) of Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency null and void.
A single bench of Justice M.V. Muralidaran also declared that the second position holder in the Lok Sabha Election, 2019 has been elected as MP.
In the Lok Sabha Election, 2019, the present MP Lorho S. Pfoze from the Naga People’s Front (NPF) got 3,63,527 votes and Haulim Shokopao Mate got 2,89,745 votes.Â
However, Haulim Shokopao Mate filed an election petition at the High Court of Manipur claiming that the affidavit filed by the present MP during the election process had many defects.
In his petition, Mate stated that as per the affidavit in Form 26 dated 21.3.2019 at Para No.7A(ix), the gross total value of assets of Pfoze should be Rs.53,24,704/- and his spouse should be Rs.3,70,648/-, whereas he showed it as Rs.52,23,704/- for himself and Rs.2,35,648/- for his spouse.
Pfzoze also failed to open the bank account which is required to be opened one day ahead of filing his nomination paper along with his affidavit dated 21.03.2019 as per the mandatory instructions of the Election Commission of India.
All account expenditures including the expenditure for buying nomination papers should be expended through his bank account opened specifically for the purpose of his election expenditure. There was no separate election bank account of the first respondent on 21.03.2019.
The acceptance of cash exceeding Rs.10,000/- by the first respondent from the donors is against the mandatory instruction and is also illegal which amounts to corrupt practice.
