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Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 17 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Monday criticized the deletion of Congress candidate Vaishna Suresh from the voter list, terming the action as “improper” and “grossly unjust”.
Vaishna had launched her campaign in Muttada ward of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation when officials intervened and removed her from the voter list, making her ineligible to contest the December 9 local body elections.
The Court asked why a young woman who had already announced her candidacy was suddenly removed from the electoral rolls, and cautioned that political views should not influence electoral processes.
“Should a 24-year-old woman coming forward to contest elections be treated like this?” the court asked, noting that her documents contained the correct address and there was no indication that she was registered as a voter anywhere else.
It was observed that the right of a candidate to contest an election cannot be denied on the basis of mere technicalities, especially in a corporation election where procedural fairness is important.
The division bench directed the State Election Commission to immediately hear Vaishna and restore her name in the voter list.
If the Commission failed to comply, the Court warned that it would not hesitate to invoke its extraordinary powers.
Justice PV Kunhikrishnan directed the District Collector to take a decision on Vaishna’s appeal before November 19, adding that the High Court would intervene if the deadline was ignored.
Vaishna was removed from the voter list following a complaint by a CPI-M worker who alleged that her permanent address did not match the address used for her voter registration.
Although her family home is in Muttada, she currently lives in a rented house in Ambalamukku and had voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
His vote was canceled after the hearing, following which Congress had to approach the High Court.
The Congress also hit back, claiming irregularities in the address of CPI-M worker Dhanesh Kumar, who lodged the complaint, saying that 22 people were listed as living under his house number.
Dhanesh denied any wrongdoing and described it as a technical issue involving multiple houses under one number.
With the intervention of the High Court, Congress hopes that Vaishno can remain its official candidate.
Vaishna, who resigned from her job to contest the upcoming local body elections, said the turn of events has been emotionally draining.
She had already started her campaign when Thiruvananthapuram Corporation officials rejected her appeal and she was forced to approach the High Court.
–IANS
SG/KHz