Null & Void: Kerala HC calls off Devikulam assembly election result

Kerala High Court on Monday cancelled the assembly election held at Devikulam constituency in Idukki.

The court was hearing a plea by UDF candidate, D Kumar, who demanded the cancellation of the election result of LDF MLA A Raja.

In his plea, D Kumar said that Raja is a Christian and doesn't belong to any Scheduled Caste.

What is the controversy surrounding Devikulam seat

A controversy erupted over the caste certificate of CPM's A Raja, who contested from Devikulam, a Scheduled Caste reservation constituency.

D Kumar, the UDF candidate moved the high court alleging that Raja contested the Devikulam seat by presenting a fake caste certificate.

In the petition, the UDF said that Raja is the son of Anthony and Esther, who are members of the Christian church, and that his wife Shinypriya, children and siblings are Christians. Raja was that he contested the Scheduled Caste seat by organizing a fake caste certificate while hiding this.

Kumar also submitted the wedding photo of A Raja and his wife Shinypriya in court along with the petition.

The petitioner argued that a cross was inscribed on the talisman in the wedding photograph. Accepting the argument of the petitioner that Raja is not a Scheduled Caste member, the court also ordered that A Raja is not entitled to caste reservation.

At the same time, the court rejected the demand of D Kumar to declare him as the winner. A Raja defeated Congress candidate D Kumar in the Devikulam constituency in the 2021 Assembly elections by a margin of 7,847 votes. The Idukki district's Devikulam assembly seat isreserved for members of Scheduled Castes.