Kerala EC disqualifies Idukki's Upputhara Panchayat vice president for defection to LDF

Idukki: The State Election Commission has disqualified Upputhara Panchayat Vice President and Fourth Ward member PS Saritha under the anti-defection law.

Saritha, who had contested the local body polls as a Kerala Congress (PJ Joseph faction) candidate under the UDF, defeated the CPM’s Indira Chandramohandas to become a ward member.

The post of Panchayat President was reserved for the Scheduled Caste category. In the 18-member governing council, the UDF held nine seats, the LDF eight, and the BJP one. Since the UDF lacked a winning candidate from the SC category, it did not have a clear majority. Consequently, CPM’s James K Jacob became President, while Congress’s Sini Joseph was elected Vice President.

As per an internal UDF agreement, the Vice President’s post was to be shared in rotation — Sini Joseph for the first two years, Omana Soudaran for the next two, and PS Saritha for the final year. Following Sini Joseph’s resignation, the election for the Vice President’s post was scheduled for July 26, 2023.

At a meeting held the previous day, the UDF decided to field Omana Soudaran and issued an official party whip. However, Saritha defied the whip, contested as the LDF-backed candidate, and won by a single vote. She was later accused of violating the party directive and aligning with the CPM.

Following a complaint filed by Youth Congress district president and Panchayat Standing Committee chairman Francis Arackaparambil and Kerala Congress mandalam president and Standing Committee chairman Sabu Vengaveli, the Election Commission reviewed the case and disqualified Saritha from the ward member post.

Saritha is now barred from contesting any election for six years.

UDF celebrates EC verdict
The UDF welcomed the Election Commission’s decision and held celebrations in Upputhara town, burning an effigy of Saritha and distributing sweets.

“The verdict sends a strong message to those who betray the front that nurtured them for the sake of power,” said Francis Arackaparambil, Opposition Leader of the Upputhara Panchayat.