New Delhi, India: Former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh and cabinet minister Nawab Malik have been denied the right to vote in the MLC elections by the Supreme Court. In separate situations, both of the leaders are currently incarcerated. Maharashtra goes to the polls today for the MLC elections, in which Deshmukh and Malik sought permission from the Supreme Court to vote. Both of their requests had previously been denied by the High Court.
Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik’s attorneys have requested an expedited hearing in the matter. In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, there are only 285 votes. Malik and Deshmukh are in judicial prison, while Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke died in the same facility.
On Friday, the Bombay High Court dismissed the two leaders’ appeal. The written order would be prepared by Friday evening, according to a bench led by Justice NJ Jamadar. In response, Malik’s lawyer, Amit Desai, argued the injunction should be issued sooner rather than later because the elections are on Monday. However, the court turned down their request.