In a setback to the BJP, the returning officers rejected the nomination papers submitted by the party candidates at Thalasseri and Guruvayur while the papers of its ally, the AIADMK, was rejected by the returning officer of Devikulam in the high ranges.
The nomination paper submitted by N Haridas, the Kannur district BJP president, as a party nominee from Thalasseri was rejected because the papers did not have the signature of the national president of the party. But sources in the district collectorate said that Haridas had submitted the copies of documents along with the affidavit instead of the original.
“My nomination has been rejected on technical grounds. This is against the spirit of democracy. We will move court regarding this incident,” said Haridas. Thalasseri was all spruced up to welcome union home minister Amit Shah who was scheduled to address an election rally for the BJP candidate.
The returning officer of Guruvayur constituency rejected the nomination submitted by Nivedita Subramanian, president, Kerala Mahila Morcha, on the ground that the Form B did not have the signature of the party’s state president. She blamed the returning officer for refusing to accept her nomination and said she would go to the court challenging the RO’s decision. “How do you expect me to check whether all the papers are ion order. It has to be done by the persons entrusted with the responsibility,” Subramanian told The Pioneer.
This was the second time Subramanian was fielded by the BJP from Guruvayur. Sources in BJP expressed shock over the callous manner in which the nomination paper was submitted by an experienced candidate, who herself is a lawyer by profession.
Interestingly, the BJP had not fielded any dummy candidates at Thalasseri and Guruvayur which means that the constituencies will see direct engagement with the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF.
Nomination papers of R Dhanalakshmi, the AIADMK candidate at Devikulam in Idukki district too was rejected by the returning officer as the former had not filled the Form 26 in full.
By evening it was announced by the NDA’s Idukki district council that an independent candidate Ganseshan joined the AIADMK, saving the alliance from a major embarrassment. Ganeshan would be the NDA candidate at Devikulam.
By evening the political landscape of Kerala was agog with allegations and counter allegations by the CPI(M) and the Congress accusing each other for making secret deals with the BJP.