In recent political happenings in Kerala, former CPM MLA A Raja has been disqualified by the Kerala High Court from the Devikulam Reserved Seat. This ground-breaking decision was enacted after a petition was filed against him for alleged caste certificate forgery. This judgement marks a significant setback for the CPM and is another humbling embarrassment for the party.
The Election Commission of Kerala has since announced that immediate action will be taken to hold re-election for the Devikulam reserved seat. This incident sheds light on the serious consequences of misuse and fraud related to caste certificates. It’s a stark reminder and warning for political parties to thoroughly vet their candidates’ credentials and records to avoid such disgraceful situations in future.
Raja’s disqualification from the Devikulam Reserved Seat came about after the petitioner, T A Shanmugan, accused Raja of forging his caste certificate to falsely present himself as a scheduled Tribe candidate, thereby being eligible to contest the elections. After a rigorous court hearing, the court declared Raja’s caste certificate as fraudulent, therefore disqualifying him from contesting in any future elections until further notice.
The aftermath of this ruling has allowed other candidates who contested in the 2016 polls from Devikulam reserved seats to file their nominations again if they so wish. The court’s rule on Raja’s disqualification and the holding of the election result in suspense until further orders imply that Raja will not be able to participate in any election until his caste certificate is verified and sanctioned by the appropriate authorities and the Election Commission of Kerala.
The Election Commission of Kerala is preparing to hold re-election for the Devikulam reserved seat as soon as possible. This judgement has negatively impacted Raja and his party, CPM while setting a standard for future political processes in Kerala.
Highlighting the recurrent issue of misuse and fraud related to caste certificates in Kerala politics, the A Raja judgement serves as a stern precedent in Kerala politics. It will impact the selection process of candidates in future elections, pushing political parties to be more cautious when choosing candidates with questionable credentials.
This case has direct implications for the upcoming polls for the Devikulam reserved seat. The outcomes of the A Raja judgement will significantly influence the selection criteria of candidates in future elections, promoting greater transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
In essence, A Raja’s case is a milestone in the Indian electoral system, serving as an example for other potential candidates. This incident reinforces the critical principle that those who break the law will face severe consequences and may set a new standard for the quality of candidates and transparency in the election process in Kerala and, possibly, the country.