MP faces attempt to block her from defending seat
BBCLeicester East MP Shivani Raja has faced an attempt to block her standing as a candidate in the next general election.
The Leicester Conservative Federation (LCF) met at the end of September to vote on whether Raja would be selected to defend the seat she won in 2024.
The BBC understand she narrowly lost the secret ballot and was not readopted.
However, party officials have subsequently declared the meeting null and void, saying it was not properly constituted.
Raja said she did not wish to comment on the meeting.
Her constituency, Leicester East, was the only Conservative gain in the 2024 election.
However, acting LCF chair Phil King confirmed he had subsequently declared the meeting void, saying there had been an administrative error relating to invitations to the meeting.
He declined to comment on the vote but added: "Effectively the meeting did not happen.
"I will say that Shivani Raja has been a great MP for Leicester East and has worked incredibly hard for her constituents."
King said another selection meeting would take place in due course.
Raja won the seat from independent MP Claudia Webbe with a 4,426 majority at the last election.
The BBC has contacted Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) for comment.
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