Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)
Kasargod, Jun 21: As BJP candidate K Surendran withdrew his complaint in the high court questioning the election of Manjeshwar MLA B P Abdul Razak, a by-election in Manjeshwar Vidhan Sabha constituency will be held soon. The application submitted by K Surendran that he will withdraw the case is decided today. The High court has asked K Surendran to deposit Rs 42,000 incurred to hear the case.
UDF Muslim league’s P B Abdul Razak under Congress had won by a margin of only 89 votes in the Kerala Vidhan Sabha elections held in May, 2016. Surendran had filed a case in the high court alleging that there were irregularities in the election. “Muslim league has won by fake votes. Therefore, I should be declared successful,” he stated in the complaint.
Meanwhile MLA P B Abdul Razak died on October 20, 2018 when the case was in the hearing stages in the court.
The names of 270 voters were submitted to court alleging fake voting. But all the witnesses could not be produced in the court. Finally K Surendran decided to withdraw the case. The final verdict that came out today downed the curtain on the case that aroused curiosity for the last two and a half years.
Besides Manjeshwar, by-elections will be held in Pala, Kottayam due to death of K M Mani, Ernakulam, Aroor, Koni and Pattiyoor Vidhan Sabha constituencies as the MLA had contested in Lok Sabha elections and won.