GORAKHPUR, July 25 -- The court of the additional district judge (fast track court) on Friday declared the election of BJP councillor Gyanmati Devi from Shahpur ward (No. 43) of the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation (GMC) null and void, holding that she concealed facts in her nomination papers and election affidavit. Additional district judge Sudesh Kumar passed the order on an election petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party candidate Archana Shukla, who had challenged the validity of Gyanmati Devi's election in the 2023 urban local body polls. The court declared her nomination and subsequent election invalid under Section 71(1)(b) and Section 71(1)(d)(i) of the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act. According to the petition, the BJP candidate failed to disclose key information in her affidavit, including details of a house allotted under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, ownership of a plot measuring more than 3,000 square feet, and her participation in the 2021 gram pradhan election in Deoria district. The court directed that a copy of its order be forwarded to the district election officer for necessary action. District election officer Deepak Meena said the administration had not yet examined the detailed judgment but would ensure compliance after reviewing the court's order....