Abatement or substitution on death of respondent

If before the conclusion of the trial of an election petition the sole respondent dies or he gives notice that he does not intend to oppose the petition or any of the respondents dies or he gives notice that there is no other respondent who is opposing the petition, the Election Tribunal shall cause notice of such event to be published in the Official Gazette, and thereupon any person who might have been a petitioner, may, within fourteen days of such publication, apply to be substituted in place of such respondent to oppose the petition and shall be entitled to continue the proceedings upon such terms and conditions, as the Election Tribunal may think fit.