An election petition is a legal tool used to challenge the victory of a candidate in any type of election, whether it's for Parliament, Assembly, or local offices.
These petitions are submitted specifically to the High Court of the state where the contested election took place, granting the High Court exclusive jurisdiction over their resolution.
Any candidate or eligible voter who was entitled to participate in the election can initiate an election petition by filing it with the designated officer of the High Court.
The window for filing an election petition is limited to forty-five days from the date when the election results were officially declared.
In an election petition, not only can a petitioner argue that the election of a particular candidate is invalid, but they can also assert their own rightful claim to being elected, as outlined in the Representation of People Act, 1951.