Supreme Court declines Baghel election challenge

The India — Supreme Court of India on August 7, 2026, declined to interfere with a India — Chhattisgarh High Court order that refused to dismiss, at the threshold, an election petition filed by BJP leader Vijay Baghel challenging the 2023 election of former India — Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel from the Patan assembly seat. The High Court had held the petition maintainable, finding sufficient foundational facts to warrant a trial. The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, noted that Bhupesh Baghel had an arguable defence and allowed him to raise all contentions before the High Court's election tribunal during the trial. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued that the alleged violation of the 48-hour silence period under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act constituted only an electoral offence, not a corrupt practice, and could not materially affect the result given Baghel's victory margin of about 20,000 votes. The Supreme Court, however, was not inclined to grant relief at this stage, leaving the matter for the trial court to decide on the merits.