New Delhi: Union Minister and BJP MP Suresh Gopi has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Kerala High Court’s refusal to dismiss, at the threshold, an election petition questioning his victory from the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 general elections.
A Bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe on Monday adjourned the matter to August 31 after taking up Gopi’s special leave petition (SLP) challenging the April 1 judgment of the Kerala High Court. Gopi has challenged the Kerala High Court’s decision rejecting his preliminary objections to the maintainability of the election petition and directing that the matter proceed to trial on the allegations of corrupt electoral practices.
In an order passed on April 1, a single-judge Bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath rejected Gopi’s plea seeking dismissal of the election petition at the threshold, holding that the challenge to its maintainability could not be sustained.
“The upshot of the findings is that the challenge to the maintainability of the election petition raised on all grounds must fail. Hence the preliminary objections raised by the respondent (Suresh Gopi) are overruled. Election petition is not liable to be dismissed in limine,” the Kerala High Court had said.
However, the High Court struck off one allegation relating to the distribution of shade umbrellas to vendors in a vegetable market while directing that the remaining allegations be tried on merits.
“The corrupt practices alleged with regard to the distribution of shade umbrellas to the vendors at the vegetable market mentioned in para 16 of the election petition are struck off. The respondent (Gopi) shall face trial for the other corrupt practices alleged in the petition,” the High Court had ordered.
The election petition was filed by Binoy A.S., district president of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) in Thrissur, seeking to have Gopi’s election declared void under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act.
Binoy alleged that Gopi indulged in multiple corrupt electoral practices during the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, including appealing to voters on religious grounds by using religious imagery and invoking religious sentiments in campaign material. The petition referred to flex boards allegedly depicting Gopi alongside images of Lord Krishna, Radha and the Ram Temple, besides campaign speeches by BJP leaders that allegedly urged voters to cast their ballots on religious considerations.
It further alleged that promises of monetary and other benefits were made to voters during the Model Code of Conduct period and that several such instances were publicised through social media platforms, including a Facebook page linked to BJP Thrissur.
Gopi registered a historic victory from the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 general elections, opening the BJP’s account in Kerala. He won the seat by a margin of more than 70,000 votes and currently serves as Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas.
On May 26, while entertaining Gopi’s SLP, the Supreme Court had issued notice on the plea, returnable on July 27.
On Monday, the matter was deferred for further consideration and is now likely to be listed on August 31.
(IANS)
