NEW DELHI. Dec 11: The supreme Court struck down today a lower court ruling that had threatened to drive from office the right-wing Hindu Chief Minister of India's richest state, reports Reuter.

The Supreme Court upheld a petition by Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi challenging a Bombay High Court ruling that had declared his 1990 election to the state assembly invalid because he had played on religious emotions.

The Bombay Court's 1993 ruling had cast a shadow over Joshi's tenure as Chief Minister. which began in March after his Hindu chauvinist Shiv Sena Party and its coalition partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). won state polls.

The court allows the appeal of Joshi and sets aside the Judgment of the Bombay High Court," the order by the three-Judge panel said.

"I am Just relieved and relaxed." Joshi told reporters in the western city of Nagpur after learning of the court ruling.

Joshi s defeated opponent in the 1990 state elections

argued that the Shiv Sena member had Illegally canvassed votes by appealing to religious feelings. Indian law bars candidates from tapping into religious sentiments In the quest for votes.

Joshi stepped down as state legislator and opposition leader after the Bombay Court's ruling In 1993 but was elected again in this year's polls and named Chief Minister at the head of the Hindu coalition government.

Lawyers for the son of his 1990 defeated opponent, who has since died, had argued that Joshi would have had to step down if the Supreme Court had rejected his petition because his 1995 electoral victory would also have been called into question.

Chief Ministers must have a scat in the state assembly

But the Supreme Courts ruling erased any legal uncertainty as to whether Joshi could remain chief minister.

Joshi's tenure as chief minister has been marked by controversy. Shortly after taking office, his government approved a decision by the city of Bombay to change the financial capital's name to Mumbai.

Proponents of the move argued Bombay was the name chosen by India's former Brl- ' tish rulers and Mumbai the name given by its original Mar iLi inliabitanis.