Shimla, Aug. 23 -- In a setback to former Congress minister Ram Lal Thakur, the Himachal Pradesh high court has dismissed the election petition filed by him challenging the election of BJP MLA and party chief spokesperson Randhir Sharma from the Sri Naina Devi Ji assembly constituency in the 2022 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections.

Justice Sandeep Sharma dismissed election petition on August 18, order of which made available on Saturday, holding that Thakur had failed to comply with the court's earlier direction to file an affidavit in accordance with Section 83(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Rule 94A of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 and the prescribed Form 25.

The election petition had challenged Randhir Sharm...