Sarojnei Saksena, J.

1. Petitioner Raj Singh has filed this election petition against Gurcharan Singh - returned candidate challenging his election from 87 - Dirba Assembly Constituency of Punjab State, result of which was declared on 10.2.1997.

2. In a nutshell, relevant facts mentioned in the election petition are that the petitioner is a resident of Village Ghanaur Jattan and is registered an elector in the electoral roll pertaining to 87-Dirba. Punjab Legislative Assembly Constituency, a part of the 10 - Sangrur Parliamentary Constituency of the Punjab State. The respondent filed his nomination Papers for election to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from 87- Dirba Assembly Constituency on 18.1.1997. As earlier he was a sitting M.L.A. and an Ex-Minister of the Punjab Government, before election programme for holding poll was announced by the Election Commission of India, respondent started convassing at different places forming part of the 87-Dirba Assembly Constituency with the object of convassing his candidature. In this attempt, he started giving grants for the items of development of the choice of electors by arranging the same from the government department concerned if the