In surprise move, ex-BJP MLA to withdraw case against Awadesh

Ayodhya: Former BJP MLA Baba Gorakhnath has decided to withdraw his case against SP's Ayodhya MP Awadhesh Prasad in the Allahabad high court. This will pave the way for the byelection on the Milkipur assembly seat in Ayodhya which had been put on hold due to the litigation.Baba Gorakhnath had challenged Prasad's election from Milkipur in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court in 2022. Gorakhnath was elected MLA from Milkipur on a BJP ticket in 2017 but lost to SP's Awadhesh Prasad in 2022 UP polls.His petition claimed that the notary who had authenticated Prasad's documents did not have a valid licence on the date of attestation. As per the Supreme Court directives, it is imperative for the notary to hold a current licence on the day of document authentication, the petition further stated.Since the matter is sub judice, the EC has postponed the Milkipur byelection. Milkipur seat fell vacant after the election of Prasad to the Lok Sabha from Faizabad (Ayodhya) seat. "I along with Shivmurti had filed the petition. We have decided to withdraw the case to pave the way for byelection. We will withdraw the case within a week," Baba Gorakhnath told TOI.