Seeking votes in the name of 'Ayyappan': K Babu's win in Tripunithura should be nullified; high court says that M Swaraj's plea will stand

KOCHI: The High Court has ruled that the petition filed by CPM's M Swaraj against Congress candidate K Babu in the Tripunithura assembly election case will stand. The court rejected the caveat given by K Babu in this regard. The case is that K Babu sought votes by using the name of Swami Ayyappan.

Meanwhile, K Babu responded that the High Court accepted a part of his plea and order is not a setback. No slip was printed with Swami Ayyappan's picture on it. The one who is said to have got this slip for the first time is a DYFI leader and this slip was made artificially. He also clarified that further action will be taken after legal advice.

Swaraj filed a petition demanding that K Babu seeking votes in Swami Ayyappan's name is an electoral irregularity and his victory should be annulled and Swaraj should be declared the winner. The election slips printed and distributed with the words 'a vote for Ayyappan' included K Babu's name and symbol. Swaraj pointed out in the petition that extensive campaigning and wall writing had been done to spread the idea that the contest was between Ayyappan and Swaraj in the Tripunithura constituency, and they should vote for K Babu for Ayyappan's win, and that the UDF election committee had met on this regard.

K Babu MLA, candidates Dr. KS Radhakrishnan, KP Ayyappan, PC Arun Babu, Rajesh Pairoad, and CB Asokan are the opposition parties. Under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, soliciting votes on the basis of caste, religion, community, etc. is an electoral irregularity.