P C Thomas to appeal to SC against election quash

Kochi, Oct 31 (UNI) Six-time Lok Sabha member and former Union Minister of State for Law and Justice P C Thomas today said he would appeal to the Supreme Court against the Kerala High Court order quashing his May 2004 election to the Lok Sabha from Muvattupuzha.

Reacting to the High Court (HC) order passed this afternoon on an election petition by defeated CPI-M candidate P M Ismael in June, 2004, Mr Thomas said the HC had already granted a stay on the operation of the order to give him time to move the apex court.

Stating there was no evidence to prove he was behind publication and circulation of religion-based appeals to the voters, Mr Thomas said no one knew who printed and distributed calendars showing him with Pope John Paul II during a visit to the Vatican.

The High Court had in its order held Mr Thomas guilty of indulging in corrupt electoral practices by canvassing votes on religious and community grounds and set aside his election.

The court declared Mr Ismael, whom Mr Thomas defeated by a narrow margin of 529 votes, as the winner.

Mr Thomas was first elected as a member of the ninth Lok Sabha in 1989. He won consecutively in subsequent elections. He served as Minister of State for Law and Justice in the NDA Government.

UNI ARC AA RR VC2054