- (1.) This election petition has been filed by the petitioner (an elector) for declaring the election of the respondent (returned candidate) as a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Bali constituency as void on the ground of corrupt practices. Paras Nos. 7 and 8 of the election petition contain averments regarding them.
(2.) Para No. 7 runs as under:- "7. That the respondent Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has committed corrupt practices of inducement by direct interference with the free exercise of their electoral rights inducing the electors to believe that they will become the object of divine displeasure within the meaning of Sec. 123(2) of the Act, by making appeal to the voters to vote on the ground of their religion and community and also used of and appeal to religious symbols which is a corrupt practice defined in Section 123(3) of the Act and by promoting feelings of hatred between different classes of citizens of India on the ground of religion and community for the furtherance of the prospects of his election (respondent) or for prejudicially affecting the election of Shri Mitha Lai Jain, who was the main contesting candidate set up by the Indian National Congress, as defined in Sec. 123(3A) of the Act."
(3.) The relevant portions of para No. 8 run as under: - "8. That the material facts and the particulars in support thereof and the grounds in respect of the corrupt practices mentioned in the foregoing para are set out in the ensuing paragraphs:- (a). That Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat addressed several election meetings on 27-10-1993 from the forenoon up to the midnight while starting tile election campaign in the Constituency in question as detailed hereunder: In the aforesaid meetings the respondent on a public address system made an appeal in the name of Lord Ram, the main theme of which was the seeking votes in the name of Ram and also referred to the demolition of the structure of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, for promoting hatred between different classes of India on the ground of religion and community for furtherance of the prospects of his lection. He also appealed to the voters by using religious symbol of Goddess Laxmi and also made an appeal to the voters to put their seal on Kamal because on the date of polling there was 'Dhan Teras' and Laxmi had originated from Kamal. xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx (d) In the Falna Speech, he incited the Hindus in the background of demolition of structure of Babri Masjid on 6-12-92 as also construction of the Ram Temple. The highlights and features of the aforesaid speech are quoted hereunder :-;