Bihar's political landscape is once again entangled in legal complexities. This time, the issue revolves around the alleged misuse of an election symbol, resulting in several prominent leaders receiving court notices.
Patna: Bihar's political arena is facing another legal storm. Mukesh Sahni, patron of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), Santosh Sahni, the party's national president, and Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, have been issued notices by the court regarding the alleged misuse of an election symbol. All three have been ordered to appear before the court by May 6th to present their case.
Dispute Aboard a Boat
This case arose following allegations made by the Bharatiya Sarthak Party. Sudhir Kumar Ojha, the party's state president and advocate, alleged that the VIP misused the "boat" election symbol through forgery and fraud. He claims this symbol is registered to the Bharatiya Sarthak Party and was used unauthorizedly by the VIP for electoral gain.
Initially Dismissed, Now Under Review
Ojha initially filed the case with the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court, where it was dismissed. However, Ojha persisted and filed a revision petition with the Principal District and Sessions Judge's court. The court accepted the petition and issued notices to Mukesh Sahni, Santosh Sahni, and Tejashwi Yadav, directing them to appear in person or through an advocate by May 6th. The court also clarified that if they fail to appear by the stipulated date, a unilateral hearing will be conducted, and an order will be passed.
Questions Raised About Tejashwi Yadav's Role
Tejashwi Yadav's inclusion in this case has caused a stir in political circles. Sources suggest the allegations claim he played a role in the symbol's use, allegedly in collusion with the VIP. However, there has been no official response yet from Tejashwi or his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
This entire controversy raises questions about the Election Commission's monitoring and registration processes. The Bharatiya Sarthak Party claims the Election Commission explicitly allocated the boat symbol to them, making the VIP's use of it a subject of inquiry.
