Kannur local body polls: UDF cry foul over nomination rejections; errors leave CPM, BJP without candidates

Kannur: The scrutiny of nomination papers for the upcoming local body elections in Kannur district has concluded, revealing a tight contest but also a large number of rejections, particularly affecting candidates from the Congress (UDF) and BJP.

A total of 98 nomination papers were rejected out of 10,179 filed, leaving 7,566 valid candidates (3,942 women and 3,624 men) to contest the polls. The last day for withdrawal of candidature is Monday, November 24, which will finalise the electoral battleground.

Technical errors and political firestorm

The rejections have led to political controversy, with opposition parties alleging bias and intimidation. The most notable rejections occurred in Malapattam Panchayat and Peravoor Block Panchayat:

Malapattam Panchayat (Ward 12, Kovunthala): The nomination of the Congress candidate, P. Nithyasree, was rejected over an alleged discrepancy in the signature on her affidavit. This instantly left the CPM candidate, M.V. Shigana, to win the ward unopposed.

Nithyasree alleged that her nomination was rejected because the officer was intimidated and that she even appeared in person and confirmed that the signature was hers.

Congress workers alleged that approximately 50 CPM workers illegally entered the returning officer's chamber, created a commotion, and issued threats, leading to the officer rejecting the nomination despite being convinced there was no issue.

DCC President Martin George announced the party will challenge the rejection in the Election Commission and the court.

They also said that the proposer for the League candidate, Ahmed Kutty, in the 9th ward, was also intimidated.

Malapattam Panchayat (Ward 4, Karimbeel): The BJP's P.P. Shinu saw his nomination rejected for failing to submit a Certified Extract of the Electoral Roll.

CPM and the Muslim League have candidates here. The CPM had already secured victory in two wards due to a lack of opponents. No one filed nomination papers against the CPM candidates in the 5th ward, Aduvappuram North, and the 6th ward, Aduvappuram South. Last time, the LDF had won unopposed in five wards of the Malapattam panchayat. This time, elections are being held in only 11 of the total 14 wards.

Peravoor Block Panchayat: The nomination of BJP candidate K. Anish was rejected from the Kolayad (women's reservation) division for being a male candidate and from the Alacherry (general) division for filing nominations in two divisions. The NDA is now without candidates in both wards.

It was found during scrutiny that Anish had filed nominations in two divisions. The returning officer said the nominations were rejected as this is not permitted. The BJP leadership said the mistake occurred because the name of the panchayat and the block division in the nomination form were the same. As this mistake occurred in the nomination filed on the first day, another nomination was submitted in the general ward the next day.

Peravoor Panchayat (Thettuvazhi Ward): The sitting LDF independent candidate, P.J. Joseph, and dummy candidate Reena were both rejected because their proposers were not a registered voter in the respective wards, leaving the LDF without a candidate in its sitting seat.

Cherukunnu Panchayat: The UDF candidate, K. Krishnan, was rejected due to an existing legal case against him. However, the UDF had preemptively filed for Mujeeb Rahman's nomination as a League candidate to keep the front in the contest.