Kerala High Court calls voters for verification

Kochi: In a rare move, Kerala High Court has summoned 259 voters of Manjeswaram assembly constituency to appear in person after they were listed as witnesses in an election petition filed by BJP leader K. Surendran alleging bogus voting in the 2016 election. Mr Surendran, who in his petition claimed that bogus voting resulted in his defeat by 89 votes, alleged that some of the voters in the list were not alive or not available in Manjeshwaram on the date of polling but their votes were cast. Mr Surendran who lost to Indian Union Muslim League candidate P.B. Abdul Razak filed the petition declaring the election null and void.

It also sought him being declared the winner as he had secured the largest number of valid votes polled in the constituency. Mr Surendran alleged that someone cast the votes of those deceased persons or those who were not available in the constituency in favour of the UDF candidate. The examination of the witnesses will begin on June 8. The court is also likely to also examine the travel documents of those who are said to be abroad.