SC junks plea to set aside Kerala MP election

The apex court on Sunday dismissed a petition which sought to set aside the election of Kerela MP, N K Premchandran for his comments on entry of women in Sabarimala temple.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court declined to set aside the election of United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate N.K. Premachandran from Kollam parliamentary constituency in Kerala for allegedly making statements against the entry of women of all age groups in Sabarimala temple.

The plea was filed by his opposition member K N Balagopala who hails from CPI-M, Balagopala had lost the elections from a margin of 1.5 lakh votes.

He had contended that Premchandran allegedly made statements against LDF and CPI-M claiming that they did not believe in Lord Ayyappa and therefore will allow entry of women in Sabrimala.

"Claims of Premchandran included women offering prayers along with men in mosques," Balagopala added. The bench upheld the Kerela HC judgement and dismissed these reasons for disqualification of a candidate.