UDF slams CPM as Kerala HC faults Returning Officer over rejected nomination in Kalpetta

Wayanad: The UDF has sharply criticised the CPM after the Kerala High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Returning Officer of Kalpetta Municipality for rejecting the nomination of UDF candidate T G Raveendran.

Raveendran, a former secretary of the municipality, was undergoing revenue recovery procedures, but the High Court had already stayed the process. He had also served as the Returning Officer during the previous local body elections.

While hearing his petition, Justice P V Kunhikrishnan observed that the Returning Officer rejected the nomination despite the court’s stay order and a letter from the bank’s state-level auditor confirming that no recovery proceedings were active. The court said the rejection was illegal and violated constitutional rights.

The court issued notices to Returning Officer Abdul Rasheed and a Joint Registrar of the Cooperative Department. However, the court did not issue further orders as the election process was already in progress.

Kalpetta MLA T Siddique accused the CPM of trying to sabotage the election in areas where it feared defeat. He alleged that while the BJP targeted the polling process, the CPM was now trying to disrupt the nomination process of UDF candidates.

The UDF has approached the State Election Commission seeking the removal of the Returning Officer, alleging partisan behaviour. Siddique claimed the officer was an active member of a pro-left union and that the nomination was deliberately rejected.

Reacting to the court’s observation, Raveendran said he was satisfied with the court's remarks. He alleged that the CPM area committee was spreading baseless claims portraying him as a corrupt official, which had caused distress to him and his family. He added that he had only received an intimation and his role in the recovery procedures was limited.

The UDF campaign in the ward is continuing with a dummy candidate still in the contest.