Approach Election Tribunal: Supreme Court to Bhupesh Baghel in Plea to Reject Election Petition

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Chhattisgarh High Court's refusal to reject at the threshold an election petition filed against former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel [Bhupesh Baghel v. Vijay Baghel].A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard the matter.CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Justice V MohanaThe election petition arises out of the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, where Bhupesh Baghel, the then Chief Minister, was declared elected from Patan constituency with 95,438 votes, defeating Vijay Baghel, who polled 75,715 votes. Vijay Baghel's election petition alleges that Bhupesh Baghel organised a rally or road show on November 16, 2023, during the 48-hour "silence period" under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which commenced at 5 PM on November 15, 2023, ahead of polling.Bhupesh Baghel challenged an interim order of the Chhattisgarh High Court dated June 15, 2026, which had rejected his application seeking dismissal of the election petition at the threshold.Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Bhupesh Baghel, argued that the allegation against him pertained to Section 126 of the Act, which creates an electoral offence and not Section 123(7), which deals with corrupt practice."On 15 November, the election campaign stopped. On 17 November, I was not allowed to attend any meeting. The allegation is that on 16 November, I attended a me

Source: Original reporting via Bar and Bench