THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan’s former additional secretary K M Shajahan on Saturday approached the Election Commission, accusing LDF candidate for Aruvikkara by-poll, Mr M Vijayakumar, of wilfully suppressing facts regarding his assets on his nomination papers.
In a complaint filed before Chief Electoral Officer Nalini Netto, Mr Shajahan said the value of the property held by Mr Vijayakumar was shown as Rs 7.88 lakh on the nomination paper.
He said that going by the lowest fair value fixed by the government for the area in 2010, the value of 3.94 acres came to more than Rs 23 lakh, almost thrice the value shown by the candidate.
The current value of land owned by him in Tholikode and Uzhamalakal, as per the Government fair value fixed in 2010, is more than Rs 50,000 a cent. Even if a modest valuation of Rs 25,000 a cent is applied, the land value would be almost Rs 1 crore (Rs 98, 50, 000).
The petition said the value of 20 cents shown as the property of the candidate’s spouse was also false. The value of the land at Pangappara within corporation limits, shown as Rs 25 lakh, is gross undervaluation. When it is impossible to get land for less than Rs 5 lakh a cent anywhere in Thiruvananthapuram, the value shown is Rs 1.25 lakh a cent.
Going by the land value in Kariavattom, the rate could be around Rs 10 lakh a cent. Even if a very modest value of Rs 5 lakh a cent is applied, the value of 20 cents would come to Rs 1 crore. The false declaration given by Mr Vijayakumar was to create an impression that he was not a crorepati, Mr Shajahan alleged.
The petition also questioned the claim of Mr Vijayakumar that he did not possess a PAN card. As an ex-MLA he is drawing Government pension and all such pensioners should have a PAN card.
Mr Shajahan urged the CEO to call for records relating to the nomination papers submitted by Mr Vijayakumar from the returning officer, scrutinise these as per the law and issue appropriate orders.
