By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 7 Feb: Even as the newly elected local government in Dehradun was set to be sworn in, the election of a newly elected BJP Municipal Corporator Prashant Kharola’s election has been challenged by an independent candidate in the court. It is learnt that the district court has accepted the plea and has issued notices to the parties concerned.
Prashant Kharola represents Ward Number 98, Balawala, and is a BJP corporator. He won the election by a slim margin of 26 votes defeating his nearest rival, Ashish Khatri, who was an independent candidate. Here Congress candidate stood a distant third.
In his plea, Ashish Khatri has accused BJP corporator Prashant Kharola of concealing information during the election. Khatri has claimed that Kharola has hidden details about the cases pending against him in his affidavit before the elections. Advocate Abhijay Negi, representing Ashish Khatri, claims that Kharola did not disclose his criminal history in the nomination form and affidavit. Out of three cases filed against Kharola, he has been acquitted in two, but one case remains active. The affidavit reportedly did not include information about either the acquitted cases or the ongoing case.
Advocate Abhijay Negi stated that the District Court has accepted the case related to the dismissal of Kharola’s membership. Notices have been issued to the newly elected corporator, the District Election Officer, and the Urban Development Department.
When questioned during the swearing in ceremony, BJP corporator Prashant Kharola admitted that he might have forgotten to provide information about a case related to the Vidhan Sabha siege in his affidavit, although he has been acquitted in the other cases. Kharola mentioned that he was unaware of the requirement to disclose the acquitted cases and claimed that he has not yet received any notice.
