Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Himachal High Court Dismisses Congress Challenge to BJP MLA Election
Ram Lal Thakur, a Congress leader, questioned the election of BJP MLA Randhir Sharma.
The dispute concerned the 2022 election in the Shri Naina Devi constituency.
Thakur raised concerns about vote counting, postal ballots and alleged wrongdoing.
Sharma said the legal paperwork for the challenge was not properly completed.
The High Court had earlier given Thakur a chance to submit a corrected affidavit.
Thakur submitted another affidavit in October 2025.
The court decided that it still did not follow the required rules.
As a result, the court dismissed the election challenge.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court dismissed Ram Lal Thakur’s petition challenging Randhir Sharma’s 2022 election.
Thakur had raised issues involving vote counting, postal ballots and alleged corrupt practices.
Sharma argued that the petition and affidavit failed to meet statutory and procedural requirements.
The court found non-compliance with Section 83(1) and Rule 94-A requirements, including Form 25.
The BJP said the judgment showed that required legal formalities and court instructions were not followed.
- Who
- Congress leader and former minister Ram Lal Thakur challenged BJP MLA Randhir Sharma’s election.
- What
- The Himachal Pradesh High Court dismissed Thakur’s election petition over alleged counting issues, postal ballots and corrupt practices.
- When
- The election was held on November 12, 2022, and votes were counted on December 8, 2022; the petition was dismissed after the court’s September and October 2025 proceedings.
- Where
- The dispute concerned the Shri Naina Devi Assembly constituency in Himachal Pradesh, and was heard by the Himachal Pradesh High Court in Shimla.
- Why
- The court found that Thakur’s petition and affidavit did not comply with mandatory legal requirements and its earlier directions.
Thakur’s Election Challenge
Sharma’s Legal Objection
Validity of the election petition
Thakur’s Election Challenge
Thakur challenged Sharma’s election, citing concerns about vote counting, postal ballots and alleged corrupt practices.
Sharma’s Legal Objection
Sharma argued that the petition had legal deficiencies and did not meet statutory requirements.
Corrective affidavit
Thakur’s Election Challenge
Thakur filed a new affidavit in October 2025 after the court gave him an opportunity to address earlier deficiencies.
Sharma’s Legal Objection
Sharma objected that the new affidavit still failed to comply with the court’s order and applicable provisions.
Court’s conclusion
Thakur’s Election Challenge
Thakur’s petition sought to contest the validity of the 2022 election.
Sharma’s Legal Objection
The court held that the affidavit and Form 25 did not satisfy mandatory requirements and dismissed the petition.
- Court
- Himachal Pradesh High Court
- Petitioner
- Ram Lal Thakur, Congress leader and former minister
- Respondent
- Randhir Sharma, BJP MLA
- Constituency
- Shri Naina Devi Assembly constituency
- Election date
- November 12, 2022
- Counting date
- December 8, 2022
- Legal basis
- Section 83(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 94-A of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961