Pithoragarh: A district and sessions court in Champawat on Wednesday declared the election to the Shaktipur Bunga Zila panchayat seat invalid, citing irregularities in the winner’s voter registration.The three-tier panchayat elections were held in July 2025, in which Krishananda Joshi was declared elected after securing 2,259 votes, defeating BJP-backed candidate Manmohan Singh Bohra, who got 1,914 votes. Other candidates included Manish Mahar (1,734), Dinesh Chandra Chodakoti (1,041) and Chandra Singh (812).Bohra challenged the result in the district court on Aug 19, alleging that Joshi’s name appeared in the electoral rolls at two places—Ward 2 of village Palso and the Nagnath ward of Champawat municipal board. His counsel, Nirmal Singh Taragi, argued that being registered as a voter at two locations violates election rules.After examining the submissions and documents, the court held the election invalid.Responding to the order, Joshi said he was “unaware of the dual entry and would challenge the decision in the Uttarakhand high court at Nainital”.
