HC rejects plea against Ramachandra Gowda's election

The High Court on Saturday rejected the petition challenging the election of BJP leader and former minister Ramachandra Gowda as MLC of Bangalore Graduates Constituency.

Hearing an election petition by defeated JD(S) candidate A Deve Gowda, seeking to declare the election of Gowda null and void, Justice H G Ramesh dismissed it.

The petitioner had moved the High Court stating that Gowda, during the election in June 2012, distributed a pamphlet stating it as a model ballot paper. He had sought first preferential vote for himself and fourth preferential votes for the petitioner. “The model ballot paper itself is misleading because it amounts to corrupt practice under Section 123 (2) of the Representation of the People Act,” he contended in his petition.

He pointed out that during the counting, 761 votes cast in his favour (Deve Gowda) were termed invalid and rejected. “If these votes were considered, the petitioner would have been declared elected,” the petition said and sought to declare him elected and declare the election of Ramachandra Gowda null and void.

However, Justice H G Ramesh, who heard the matter, dismissed the petition and observed, “Seeking votes for himself being part of democratic rights, the allegation of the petitioner does not amount to corrupt practice.”

On the allegation related to votes being not considered, the court termed it just an allegation by the petitioner without any basis.

Ramachandra Gowda, after a tough contest, was re-elected as MLC in June 2012 by a whisker. He had secured secured 8,468 votes against Deve Gowda’s 8,224 votes.