Thiruvananthapuram: The prominent BJP candidates did not have a smooth sailing as far as filing of nominations was concerned. State general secretary K. Surendran and the lone woman general secretary Sobha Surendran had to file nominations for a second time due to faults in the first sets.
The first nomination papers of Shobha Surendran, candidate in Attingal, had lapses in the number of cases she faced. She withdrew the one filed on Tuesday after she was told that there are 27 more cases against her.
K. Surendran experienced uncertainty after the government informed the High Court that he is accused in 240 cases over the protest on the Sabarimala issue.
The affidavit submitted along with the nomination papers did not mention these cases. If anybody raises objections at the time of scrutiny, the papers may be rejected. Surendran filed his nomination on March 30 stating that there are 20 cases against him. A senior BJP leader told DC that there was lack of communication within the party leading to the confusion.
“The government is trying to eliminate me from the poll fray. This is a clear case of political vendetta,” said Surendran.
The charges against Surendran include criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and damaging public property during the Sabarimala agitation.
K. P. Prakash Babu, BJP candidate from Kozhikode, who is currently lodged in Kottarakara sub-jail, is also an accused in the Sabarimala agitation. He took the oath of nomination before the jail authorities on Wednesday.
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