(1.) Heard Mr. Harendra Prasad Singh, learned counsel assisted by Mr. Santosh Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner; Mr. Amit Shrivastava, along with Mr. Sanjeev Nikesh, learned counsel for the State Election Commission; Mr. Ramadhar Singh, learned GP-25 for the State and Mr. S. B. K. Mangalam, learned counsel for the respondent no. 7. Despite notice to the remaining private respondents, nobody appeared on their behalf when the matter was heard.
(2.) At the very outset, before making submissions, learned counsel for the petitioner expressed his apology on behalf of the petitioner and sought permission to delete paragraph no. 15.
(3.) Learned counsel for the respondents do not object.