Kochi: The High Court has refused to consider the petition filed by UDF candidate Elsie George challenging the rejection of her nomination papers for the Kadamakkudy division of the Ernakulam District Panchayat. The High Court instructed that, if required, Elsy George may file an election petition, but further steps can be taken only after the election results are declared.

Kadamakkudy is regarded as a strong UDF division. With the rejection of her nomination papers, the UDF is now in danger of losing one division. Since no dummy candidate had filed papers, the UDF currently has no candidate in the fray. The contest here will now be a direct fight between the CPM and the BJP.

The nomination paper of Advocate Elsie George, currently the vice president of the District Panchayat and the UDF candidate, was rejected the other day. The papers were rejected because the person who supported Elsie was from outside the Kadamakkudy division. However, the UDF alleged that the officials acted with political intent.

The petitioner argued that it was wrong to raise this objection later without pointing out the discrepancy when the nomination was submitted. She also stated that when she arrived at 2.50 pm on November 21, the last date for submitting nomination papers, to file another set of papers, they were not accepted.

The petition therefore sought an order to accept the nomination. However, the High Court made it clear that it would not intervene in Elsie George’s petition.