Left-independent MLA's election nullified by Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court has nullified the election of a Left Democratic Front (LDF) backed independent MLA on charges of spreading a misleading video against an opponent during the election campaign.

Election of Karat Razak from Koduvally constituency in North Kerala district Kozhikode in the 2016 Assembly elections was nullified by the High Court on Thursday. The charge against Razak was that a video raising a fake allegation against his opponent M A Razak of the Indian Union Muslim League was spread during the election campaign. Karat Razak won the polls with a thin majority of 573 votes.

Karat Razak was a former leader of the IUML, a partner in the Congress-led UDF. He shifted to the LDF camp following differences over candidate selection in the Assembly elections.

Recently, the Kerala High Court had set aside the election of IUML MLA from Azhikode constituency in Kannur district, K M Shaji, on charges of distributing communally sensitive pamphlets during the election campaign. But the Supreme Court later allowed a stay on the order.

In the case of Karat Razak, the High Court has given 30 days time for him to approach the Apex court against the order nullifying the election. The order will be effective only afterwards, said sources.

The controversial video pertained to an allegation that the IUML candidate M A Razak misappropriated funds while serving as a member of the Koduvally panchayat earlier. Social worker K P Muhammed approached court against this. The petitioner contended that the allegation against M A Razak was a fake one and a case in that connection was already settled by a court.

Karat Razak told a section of media that he would move the Supreme Court soon in consultation with the LDF leadership. He also said that the charges against him were politically motivated. The UDF, especially the IUML, was trying to haunt me for quite some time.

The LDF has a clear majority of around 90 seats in the 140 members Kerala Assembly. Hence the nullification of the LDF backed independent MLA did not pose any threat to the government.