KOCHI: The stage has been set for bypoll in Manjeswaram with BJP candidate K Surendran withdrawing the petition against the victory of P. B. Abdul Razak. The court approved Surendran’s request to withdraw the petition but ordered him to pay Rs 42,000 as court expenses.

The Manjeswaram bypolls were not held even six months after the death of P. B. Abdul Razak due to Surendran‘s petition. Surendran alleged that Abdul Razak defeated him for 87 votes using bogus voting. Surendran decided to withdraw the petition after being unable to present all the witnesses in the case. However, there were several technical difficulties for this and it led to the delay in the decision. As the petitions could not be withdrawn without announcing in the gazette. Finally, Justice Sunil Thomas issued an order closing the case.

The Election commission will be immediately informed about the HC procedures. With this, the Manjeswaram bypolls will be held along with Pala, Ernakulam, Aroor, Konni assembly constituencies.