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The Election Commission of India declares Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S disqualified for three years from being a member of Parliament or a State/Union Territory Legislative Assembly or Council, in pursuance of Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, due to his failure to lodge election expenses.

Detailed Summary

The Election Commission of India, via Order O.N. 48 (E) dated 9th September, 2025, has declared Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S, a contesting candidate from the 106-Davangere North Assembly Constituency of Karnataka in the General Election to Legislative Assembly, 2023, disqualified for three years from the date of the order. This disqualification, issued under Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, stems from his failure to lodge an account of election expenses within the stipulated 30 days from the election result declaration on 13th May, 2023, as required by Section 78 of the said Act. The last date for lodging expenses was 12th June, 2023. The District Election Officer, Davangere, reported this failure on 05.08.2024, under Rule 89(1) of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. Subsequently, a Show Cause Notice No. 76/KT-LA/34/2023/CEMS-II, dated 20th September, 2024, was issued by the Election Commission under Rule 89(5), directing Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S to submit a representation and lodge his expenses within 20 days, as per Rule 89(6). Reports from the District Election Officer, Davangere, on 28.03.2025 and a supplementary report on 03.07.2025, confirmed that the notice was served by pasting it on his residence at # 1325, 2nd Stage, S.P.S Nagara, Davanagere- 577006, and that the candidate neither submitted any representation nor lodged the account of election expenses, providing no justification for the failure. The Commission, being satisfied with these facts, proceeded with the disqualification.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-07102025-266721 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (iii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 48] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2025/ASVINA 15, 1947 ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA ORDER New Delhi, the 9th September, 2025 O.N. 48 (E).— WHEREAS, the General Election to Legislative Assembly, 2023 for 106- Davangere North Assembly Constituency of Karnataka was held in pursuance of the Election Commission of India Notification No. 464/KT-LA/2023, dated 13th April, 2023; and WHEREAS, as per Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every contesting candidate at an election shall, within 30 days from the date of election of the returned candidate, lodge with the District Election Officer an account of his/her election expenses which shall be a true copy of the account kept by him/her or his/her election agent under Section 77 of the said act; and WHEREAS, the result of the election for 106- Davangere North Assembly Constituency of Karnataka, 2023 was declared by the Returning Officer on 13th May, 2023 and hence the last date for lodging the account of Election Expenses was 12th June, 2023; and WHEREAS, as per the report dated 05.08.2024 of District Election Officer, Davangere under sub- rule (1) of Rule 89 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 received through the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka vide his letter no. DPAR/08/Chuvebha(Addl CEO-1)2023; dated 13.08.2024 stating that Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S, a contesting candidate from 106- Davangere North Assembly Constituency in General Election to Legislative Assembly of Karnataka, 2023 has failed to lodge the account of his election expenses, as required under law; and WHEREAS, on basis of the said report of the District Election Officer, Davangere a 'Show Cause Notice' No. 76/KT-LA/34/2023/CEMS-II, dated 20th September, 2024 was issued under sub rule (5) of Rule 89 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 by the Election Commission of India to Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S, for not lodging of the account of Election Expenses; and WHEREAS, through the above said 'Show Cause Notice' and under sub rule (6) of Rule 89 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S was directed to submit representation in writing to the Commission explaining the reasons for not lodging the account and also to lodge the account of his election expenses with the District Election Officer, Davangere District within 20 days from the date of receipt of the notice; and WHEREAS, the District Election Officer, Davangere in his report no. ELNCR/57/2024-25; dated 28.03.2025 has reported that the candidate Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S. was not residing in the given address and his whereabouts was not known, hence the said 'Show Cause Notice' was pasted on the wall of the house and a mahazar was prepared 27.11.2024; and WHEREAS, the District Election Officer, Davangere in his Supplementary Report no. ELNCR/57/2024-25; dated 03.07.2025 on account of the candidate, received through Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka letter No. DPAR/08/Chuvebha (Addl.CEO-1) 2023; dated 10.07.2025 has reported that Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S has not submitted any representation or statement of account of election expenses. Further, after receipt of the said notice, Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S has neither furnished any reason nor explanation to the Election Commission of India for failure to lodge the account of his election expenses as prescribed under law; and WHEREAS, Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 provides that:- "If the Election Commission is satisfied that a person- (a) has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by or under this Act, and (b) has no good reason or justification for the failure, the Election Commission shall, by order published in the Official Gazette, declare him to be disqualified and any such person shall be disqualified for a period of three years from the date of the order."; WHEREAS, on basis of the facts and available records, the Commission is satisfied that Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S has failed to lodge the account of his election expenses and has no good reason or justification for the failure to do so; and NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission of India hereby declares Sh. Keerthi Kumar. K.S, resident of # 1325, 2nd Stage, S.P.S Nagara, Davanagere- 577006 and a contesting candidate from 106- Davangere North Assembly Constituency of Karnataka in General Election to Legislative assembly, 2021, to be disqualified for being chosen as and for being a member of either House of the Parliament or the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State or Union Territory for a period of three years from the date of this order. [F. No. 76/KT-LA/34/2023/CEMS-II] RAKESH KUMAR, Secy. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. GORAKHA NATH YADAVA Digitally signed by GORAKHA ΝΑΤΗ YADAVA Date: 2025.10.07 14:56:37 +05'30'

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