Kochi/ Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala High Court on Monday heard the Congress party’s petition challenging the State Election Commission’s decision to remove Vyshna Suresh, 24, from the supplementary voters’ list for the local body polls. "The court observed that removing her name from the rolls without proper inquiry appeared improper and said the Commission was not expected to act with any political motive. It also directed that she be granted a second hearing before the Commission," Advocate Mridul, who appeared for the party, told Onmanorama.

Vyshna, the UDF’s candidate for the Muttada ward and the alliance’s youngest nominee in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation polls, was deemed ineligible after the CPM complained that she was not a registered voter within the Corporation limits. Election rules require candidates to be voters in any ward of the same Corporation.

Earlier in the day, Vyshna also submitted an appeal before the Deputy Collector (Elections), challenging the Commission’s decision.

Speaking to Onmanorama, Vyshna said she would follow whatever course of action the party decides. Thiruvananthapuram DCC president N Sakthan said the party is confident that the High Court will recognise the merits of their appeal and grant relief.

In the Muttada ward, the LDF has fielded Anshu Vamadevan, the sitting councillor from Kesavadasapuram, while the NDA has nominated a BDJS candidate.

What happened?
Vyshna submitted her address to the State Election Commission as 18/564. However, the property’s owner, Raheeb Shah, informed officials that he did not know Vyshna, had not rented the building to anyone, and had not allowed anyone to register their vote there. As a result, her name was removed from the voters' list. Following this, the candidate was given until 5 pm on November 13 to clarify the issue. According to the Commission’s timeline, the final voters' list was scheduled to be published on the morning of November 14.

In an affidavit submitted on November 15 via speed post, Vyshna explained that her correct address was 18/2365 (formerly 3/564) Sudha Bhavan, Muttada, and not 18/564 as previously listed by her.“I had inadvertently noted my TC No as 18/564 (as was wrongly noted in the voter's list) in my objection and earlier affidavit. The same was done in innocent oversight and may kindly be pardoned. It is reiterated that the new TC No of the building where I am residing is 18/2365 (old TC No. 3/564) ,” Vyshna explained.

She further clarified that the house is owned by her relative, Sandeep, and the address appears on all her official documents, including her Aadhar card, driving licence, passport, and Election ID. While she currently resides in Ambalamukku on rent, her family home is in Muttada ward, and she voted in the last Lok Sabha election using this address. When TC numbers were reallocated, the building was assigned the new T.C. number 18/2365.

However, the K-SMART building certificate showed that Sandeep’s building was originally listed as 3/566, before being changed to 18/2365, adding to the confusion. Vyshna said she submitted her application using the number listed alongside her name in the voters’ register, along with all the necessary documents, to the Corporation’s election cell. She claimed that officials at the election cell refused to accept her affidavit correcting the address to 18/2365, forcing her to send it via speed post.