MP: Petition challenges Kamal Nath's election

A petition has been filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court challenging the election of Union Minister for Surface Transport Kamal Nath from Chhindwara Lok Sabha constituency for allegedly suppressing actual expenditures incurred on helicopter rides during campaign.

The petition filed by former Madhya Pradesh minister Choudhry Chandrabhan Singh alleged Nath has shown just Rs 14.99 lakh as election expenses in his return and that also included expenses incurred on helicopter rides to just Rs 3.95 lakh.

He claimed that from April 6 to April 17, Nath has toured the constituency for eight hours every day in his helicopter.

The petitioner alleged that as per the Election Commission guidelines, a one-hour helicopter ride should cost a minimum of around Rs 75,000 while the expenses shown by Nath on helicopter ride amounts to not more than a single day as per the guidelines.

The petition charged that Nath is a director in the company from which the helicopter was shown to be hired.

A separate election petition was also filed against Congress MP from Dhar reserve seat Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi by the defeated BJP candidate Mukam Singh Kirade.