Kochi: Twelve petitions are set to come before the Kerala High Court challenging the outcome of the Assembly elections. LDF candidate M.V. Nikesh Kumar was the latest to move the court, contesting the election of his IUML opponent K.M. Shaji from Azhikode. Mr Shaji secured a majority of 2,287 votes over Mr Kumar, who alleges corrupt practice under various sections of the Representation of the People Act.
“An appeal was made to the voters, who belong to the Muslim community, by Mr Shaji, his agents and other persons to vote for UDF candidate on the ground of his religion. Pamphlets were circulated urging not to vote for a candidate who is not a believer of the Islamic faith,” he said. He also alleged that another pamphlet was circulated with an aim to lowering his reputation.
The elections of UDF MLAs - Anil Akkara (Vadakkanchery), P.B. Abdul Razak (Manjeshwaram), K.C. Joseph (Irikkur), T.A. Ahammed Kabeer (Mankada), P.K. Kunhalikutty (Vengara), K.M. Mani (Pala) V.S. Sivakumar (Thiruvananthapuram) and K. Muralidharan (Vattiyoorkavu) were contested before the two special benches constituted for election disputes.
The UDF candidates have challenged the victory of LDF's R. Ramachandran (Karunagappally) and Veena George (Aranmula) and independent MLA Karat Abdul Razak (Koduvally). BJP candidates K. Surendran and Kummanam Rajasekharan have also moved the court. LDF candidate Mani C. Kappan and K.C. Chandy, a voter of Pala constituency, challenged the election of K.M. Mani.
Mr Kappan submitted that the returning officer had improperly accepted the nomination filed by Mr Mani. The allegation levelled against Mr Akkara was that he tried to influence voters by circulating a fake notice in the name of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council.
