New Delhi seat: HC seeks response from Parvesh on plea challenging his election

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma on a petition challenging his election from the New Delhi constituency in the 2025 Assembly poll.

Justice Jasmeet Singh also issued notices to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and 23 candidates, including AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, who contested the elections from the seat. The court has listed the matter for hearing on May 27.

The petition, filed by Vishvanath Agarwal, alleges that he was unlawfully prevented from filing his nomination papers. “The returning officer did not accept my nomination form despite my presence in the office before 3 pm on January 17, 2025, the last day of filing nominations,” the plea stated.

Agarwal has urged the court to declare the election null and void and direct the ECI to conduct fresh poll.

Verma, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, secured victory over AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal by a margin of over 4,000 votes. He garnered 30,088 votes in the February 5 elections, the results of which were announced on February 8.

Earlier on January 23, the High Court had dismissed his writ petition on similar grounds, stating, “The remedy of the petitioner in the present case lies in filing an election petition and this writ petition cannot be entertained.”