A PIL has been filed with the Supreme Court by Ashwani Upadhyay, a lawyer at the apex court, asking for a ban on candidates contesting election from two seats simultaneously.

The petitioner says that contesting from two seats in a candidate is a violation of Article 19 of the Constitution. The petition calls for one man one vote and one candidate one constitution, which is the principle of a democracy. This is not adhered to when a candidate contests from two seats.

The petition also demands setting up of guidelines for independent candidates. It has also demanded that Section 33 (7) of the Representation of People Act, 1951 be declared unconstitutional.

—India Legal Bureau