Grounds for which a candidate other than the returned candidate may declared to have been elected

M. If any person who has lodged a petition has, in addition to calling in question the election of the returned candidate, claimed a declaration that he himself or any other candidate has been duly elected and the Election commissioner is of opinion-

1. (a) that in fact the petitioner or such other candidate received a majority of the valid votes; or
2. (b) that but for the votes obtained by the returned candidate by a corrupt practice the petitioner or such other candidate would have obtained a majority of the valid votes; the Election Commissioner shall after declaring the election of the returned candidate to be void declare the petitioner or such other candidate, as the case may be, to have been duly elected.