Kasargod: Will BJP wrest Manjeshwar Assembly seat? High court to decide


Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Jun 11: People from the region have often been seen discussing the prospects of Manjeshwar Assembly seat going to BJP's kitty. Verdict of Kerala high court (HC) relating to the election petition filed by defeated BJP candidate challenging the result announced by the returning officer, which is awaited soon, can alone provide an answer to this million dollar question.

BJP candidate, K Surendran, who fought the election and lost the battle to Muslim League's P B Abdul Razak, had approached the high court seeking to nullify the election of Razak. He had sighted that franchise had been exercised during the election by 'voters' who had 'died' and several people who were living in foreign countries at the time of election. The investigation undertaken by HC has reached conclusive stage.


K Surendran (L) and P B Abdul Razak

The officials entrusted with the task of investigating the complaint have questioned and obtained information from officials. Information is also being pooled from officers appointed at the polling booths, other staff, and voters.

It has been observed that a vote had been cast in the name of U A Muhammed from Manjehwar gram panchayat,who had died a year before the election, at ninth polling booth of Manjeshwar. Polling officer of the booth, P H Sirajuddin, had appeared before the HC and recorded his evidence to this effect. After finding that Surendran's complaint had substance, the HC has served summons through the police to 259 voters asking them to appear before the HC and adduce evidence. 259 voters who have been allegedly involved with one or the other wrongdoing, have to appear before the HC and give clarification.

Those who have been charged with election malpractices are already being tried at the HC. It is gathered that five persons to whom sumons were served, had threatened the officials serving the summons. One has died, while four are not living at the address given, as per report filed by the officials in the HC. The HC has ordered to serve summons to those who reportedly threatened the staff, with police help.

If fake voting and other election-related malpractices are proved, the possibility of HC declaring the election result as null and void, and declaring Surendran as having been elected cannot be ruled out. Because of this likelihood, people from the district are eagerly awaiting the HC verdict.

In the election held during May 2016, Muslim League candidate had defeated BJP's Surendran with a slender margin of 89 votes. After P B Abdul Razak was declared elected, Surendran had filed election petition in the HC questioning the result. He had alleged that election-related wrongdoings had happened during the polling, and votes had been cast in the name of people living in foreign countries at the time. He had given a list of 259 voters who were not here on the date of election, but in whose names impersonators had cast their votes. Surendran's plea to quash the result has now reached a decisive stage.

The court has asked the central government to provide immigration details of voters who were said to be away from the country on the day of election but in whose names votes were polled. It has put to scrutiny polling officers who functioned that day. In respect of 298 voters who have been accused of voting in the name of others are being examined now. People who have been accused of casting fake votes have to present themselves before the HC and record their statements. The people's curiosity about what will happen if Surendran is able to prove his allegations has been aroused now because of the fact that the case is reaching a stage where verdict from HC is expected to be delivered without much delay.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Sachin Shetty, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 12 2017

    I am not a BJP fan but somehow I feel that surendran was the clear winner in Kasargod and I also think that the courts verdict will be in his favour...Anything can happen in Gods own country..

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Mon, Jun 12 2017

    Truth shall prevail

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Jun 12 2017

    I hope there is no Jumala ...

    DisAgree [9] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sathish shetty, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 12 2017

    Now the high time to expose the jumla,

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • wellwisher, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 12 2017

    BJP backed judiciary trying to fool public. If at all some one misused then law cannot decide the loser as winner. Seems a big criminal agenda stands behind this to create communal tension in a Manjeshwar.
    Some desh drohi groups are trying to create communal crisis all around INDIA but on above creator is observing every thing that all we have to remember always.

    For oppositions satisfaction re-election is the best opinion and that also ballot system voting and not with dirty Electronic voting machine.

    Hope all peace lovers manage to understand demand for ballot system voting.

    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [18] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mahendra Shetty, Mumbai Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    THE CHOR WORD IS JUSTIFIED HERE....

    DisAgree [11] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    Court must order for re election. How they declare BJP has own?

    DisAgree [8] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • shaf bhakt, mangalore

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    This is well known to all the parties in India.

    They will buy votes, the psuedo's will vote just like proxy. All the parties do practice it publicly.

    Rarely one politician has challenged it.

    How can we give full stop for such practices. Can an Online voting system come in future?


    These unfair practices help them to engage in non ethical behavior once they win.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    Khayali Pulav ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • lukas, malpe

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    its not mistakes of candidates if any one voted in the name of died person, polling officer and agent is responsible for that .even how high court can decides which voter voted for which candidates?

    DisAgree [17] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    First time in 70 years, cheats getting exposed?

    How many more decades can Indians be cheated like this? truth must prevail.. sickulars must bite the dust.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [29] Reply Report Abuse

  • vinayak prabhu, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    People came here and voted and went back ? I don't know who will invest so much to vote and passport details will reveal truth

    DisAgree [1] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • SHAHID, SHIRVA

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    Manjeshwar people get ready for riots...because where these BJP people lands riots starts by own...

    DisAgree [53] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    You are right.. the entire west asia is burning.. even England is burning.. .name any country..

    yes,, BJP has gone there and hence riots? how long you keep fooling people dear..

    DisAgree [8] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • D.P.Shetty, Bahrain

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    This is main reason BJP lost in kerala, but truth will prevail today or tomorrow

    DisAgree [24] Agree [53] Reply Report Abuse

  • ROSHAN DEEN, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    Now Feku's party which ' won' the election in UP and other stares are most afraid.The loosing candidates may file case by proving that the vote is casted in the name of dead persons.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Mulki

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    There are NRI s who come to vote and go back to the countries where they work.Is it not legal? Do they have to come back again to appear before HC.The immigration department has the proof that they were in India at the time of election

    DisAgree [52] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shankar, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    Courts will have better judgmental experience than you Sir.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [49] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jb, Mlore

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    They cannot come in a boat or auto to vote and go back to gulf. If they were in town while voting just got to show the emigration stamp on their passport. Surendran is sure to be declared winner . One more feather on BJP's cap in Kerala . He is even tipped to be the next leader of BJP in Kerala.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [47] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Sun, Jun 11 2017

    Once for all set an example for wrong doing..... It's become habit for few Political Leaders just to win the election.... Are they really interested to serve the common people? No not at all?

    DisAgree [2] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Kasargod: Will BJP wrest Manjeshwar Assembly seat? High court to decide



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