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New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi who is also an MP from Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh will be affected by the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court which deals with the contentious issue of politicians seeking votes on religious grounds.
On Thursday, a petition challenging the election of Sonia Gandhi came up for hearing in the SC – alleging that the Congress president had violated the election laws in 2014 Lok Sabha polls as an appeal was made to the Muslim community to vote for the Congress party by Imam Bukhari on her behalf.
But the SC deferred the hearing on petition saying the issue raised is already being heard by 7 Judges constitution bench and it would want to wait for the judgment by the bench.
This appeal filed by Ramesh Singh – contends that Sonia Gandhi had during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections met Syed Ahmad Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid and sought his help to ensure that Muslim votes should not be split in the Lok Sabha elections.
The petitioner alleges that subsequently, an appeal was made by Syed Ahmad Bukhari which was given wide publicity by the media, and had influenced the Muslim voters to vote in favour of Sonia Gandhi due to which the respondent won the election.
The petitioner contended that the appeal by Syed Ahmad Bukhari to vote on religious lines is a corrupt practice and, therefore, the election of Sonia Gandhi is void under Section 100(1)(b) of the Act.
The petition by Ramesh Singh was originally filed in Allahabad high court but the HC judgement dismissed it.
