BJP nominee's papers rejected in Kodagu, brother to be candidate

The nomination papers of Suja Kushalappa, the official BJP candidate for the Council polls from the Kodagu seat have been rejected.

Deputy Commissioner Meer Anees Ahmed, also the electoral officer, told reporters on Thursday that the papers had been rejected as per Section 8(3) of the People’s Representation Act. Under the Act, a nominee sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more in a case cannot contest polls.

Kushalappa’s brother Sunil Subramani, who had submitted papers as the BJP’s second candidate, will now be the official nominee.

Kushalappa’s papers were rejected as he has been convicted by a local court in a case pertaining to the threat issued to a newspaper reporter, following a report that he had sanctioned a parcel of land in violation of rules when he was the chairman of the Akrama-Sakrama committee in Virajpet in March 2013.

A total of eight candidates had filed their papers. Those of Kushalappa and Maranna Dileep have been rejected. While H S Chandramouli is the Congress nominee, Sanketh Poovaiah is the JD(S) candidate.

The court had sentenced Kushalappa to two years imprisonment in the case. Though he has secured a stay from the District Principal Sessions court on the two years’ imprisonment, his conviction remains. The Congress candidate argued that since his conviction remains, he cannot contest the election.

But the BJP’s argument is that there was no need to get stay for conviction and punishment separately.