Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Feb 26: BJP’s K Surendran who had lost elections had filed a case in high court alleging that UDF candidate, Muslim League’s P Abdul Razak had won elections through illegal votes in Manjeshwar Vidhan Sabha elections during 2016. As BJP has decided to withdraw the case, Manjeshwar Vidhan Sabha elections have become imminent. The elections are likely to be held together with Lok sabha elections.

P B Abdul Razak had won by a margin of only 89 votes. K Surendran who questioned it in the high court claimed that 265 people have voted in the names of the dead and those who are abroad. In the trial held in stages, though 65 people were issued notices, they did not come to testify in the high court. Meanwhile P B Abdul Razak died in last October.

As there was no MLA, it was a setback for development works. UDF had said that BJP is hesitating to withdraw case for fear of losing. Surendran has decided to withdraw the case now and will submit a petition to High court in another two days. Surendran had said that he will not contest from Manjeshwar. Therefore, local leader is likely to contest. Surendran had contested from Kasargod Lok Sabha constituency in 2009 and 2014 and had to be content with third place. He had contested for Vidhan Sabha elections from Manjeshwar in 2011 and 2016 and had lost against UDF candidate.