Thrippunithura verdict: Excitement in UDF camp

KOCHI: The UDF camp was further energised by the High Court verdict upholding the victory of K Babu in the 2021 assembly elections. Although the verdict in Thrippunithura may not have much impact on the voters preparing for the parliamentary elections, it is a huge lifeline for K Babu.

Babu was rocked by the Bar bribery controversy while serving as minister of important departments after gaining strength in Group A with the favour of AK Antony and Oommen Chandy. In the 2016 elections, there was a strong rift within the Congress leadership regarding Babu's candidature. He was made a candidate at the very last moment. However, he was defeated by CPM's young leader M Swaraj by 4467 votes. That was Babu's first defeat in the seven assembly elections he contested.

Following this, he went through a bad phase as he faced continuous vigilance investigations. He was excluded from the leadership of the party. However, in 2021, K Babu again entered the field as a candidate likely to win against the LDF, which is targeting the continuation of rule. He managed to secure a narrow victory in Thrippunithura in elections in which Sabarimala remained the main campaign topic. He defeated M Swaraj by a mere margin of 992 votes. This election was questioned in the High Court.

Although Babu had approached the Supreme Court with a demand to dismiss M Swaraj's plea, the apex court sent the case back to the High Court. Even though Babu received a relief judgment from the single bench yesterday, the Thrippunithura election case is not likely to end with this.