Former BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena, disqualified after a court sentenced him to three years in a criminal intimidation case, has sought a pardon from Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade. Meena hopes to return to the assembly before the Election Commission announces a fresh poll. The Congress questioned if such privileges would be extended to ordinary citizens.
Legal experts note that while a governor has powers to pardon under Article 161 of the Constitution, it is rarely exercised in politically sensitive matters like disqualification. The BJP, meanwhile, has not officially commented, although party insiders say Meena’s return would be strategically useful in the run-up to local polls. With his constituency still in suspense, Meena’s move has added a legal and political twist to Rajasthan’s post-election landscape.
