THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: NDA candidate in Thrissur, Suresh Gopi, has denied violating the election code of conduct and said he had not used the words Sabarimala temple and Ayyappan in his speeches.
Thrissur district collector and returning officer T.V. Anupama had issued a notice to him for invoking the name of Ayyappa for seeking votes. Suresh Gopi has sought more time to give a detailed reply.
BJP state president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has consulted senior lawyers in the Supreme Court to file a detailed explanation to the collector.
Pillai said on Sunday that he would give a reply on behalf of the candidate.
“Sreedharan Pillai himself is a senior lawyer and he contacted top lawyers in the Supreme Court before Suresh Gopi gave the explanation on Monday evening”, said a senior BJP leader.
“The Central Election Commission has banned campaigns that may cause communal rift. I haven’t used the words as alleged by the returning officer. Sabarimala is the name of a place. I haven’t mentioned Sabarimala temple or Ayyappa swami,” said Suresh Gopi.
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