HC dismisses plea challenging election of Suresh Gopi

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed an election petition filed by an Independent candidate against Union Minister Suresh Gopi challenging his election to the Lok Sabha from the Thrissur constituency in 2024.

In his plea, Independent candidate Joshi Villadom had challenged Mr. Gopi’s election contending that Mr. Gopi had committed corrupt practices under Section 123(3-A) and (4) of the Representation of People Act. He alleged that the nominations of all the respondents in the election petition were improperly accepted.

Rebutting the allegations, Mr. Gopi contended that the election petition does not contain full particulars of the alleged corrupt practices, as required under Section 83(1)(b) of the RP Act.

The election petition not only lacked the material facts but also lacked material particulars. Moreover, the affidavit filed was not in the form prescribed, the court said dismissing the plea.