Election Commission issues crucial order; Vaishna Suresh will contest from Muttada ward in local body polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vaishna Suresh, whose candidacy faced scrutiny in the past few days, was deemed eligible to contest in the upcoming local body polls. The Election Commission issued an order that Vaishna can vote and contest in the upcoming polls.

The Election Commission's order states that Vaishna Suresh's name will be included in the voters' list. The Election Commission cancelled the action of removing her vote, citing irregularities in her house number. With this, Vaishna Suresh can file a nomination as a Congress candidate in Muttada ward.

Vaishna Suresh approached the High Court questioning the action taken to remove her from the voters' list. It was after she started campaigning that news emerged about her name being removed from the voters' list. The High Court, while considering the petition, labelled the whole process as unfair and said it reeked of politics.

The High Court had also directed the State Election Commission to take steps to include Vaishna in the voters' list. Otherwise, the High Court stated that extraordinary powers would be exercised. Justice P.V. Kunhikrishnan had directed that the District Collector should decide on the appeal filed by Vaishna on the matter by the 19th.