Kerala High Court Issues Notice To K Babu MLA On LDF Candidate M Swaraj's Challenge Against Tripunithara Election Results

A Single Bench of the Kerala High Court comprising Justice Shircy V on Wednesday issued notice to Congress candidate K Babu in the election petition filed against him by CPI(M) leader and former Tripunithara MLA M Swaraj.

Swaraj had approached the Court last month seeking a declaration to the effect that the election of congress candidate K Babu from the Tripunithara constituency was null and void.

The election petitioner, represented by Advocate P.K Varghese, was a candidate of the Tripunithara Assembly Constituency. The respondent was his rival candidate and a nominee of the Indian National Congress party.

Pursuant to the elections in the State held on 6th April 2021, the respondent was elected as an MLA from the said Constituency. However, the petition urged that the election of the respondent was vitiated by corrupt practices under several provisions of the Representation of People Act. It was contended that the election agents and other organizers of the respondent's election campaign aided in these corrupt practices.

The petitioner approached the High Court praying for an order setting aside the said election on the ground that he indulged in corrupt practices by interfering with the free exercise of electoral rights of the devotees of Lord Sabarimala Ayyappa. It was also prayed that the petitioner be declared as the returned candidate in the aforementioned elections to the Kerala Legislative Assembly.

Title: Adv. M. Swaraj v. K Babu