Pillai's candidature to be decided today

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, APRIL 24. A decision on accepting the nomination of the UDF candidate in the Kottarakara Assembly constituency, Mr. R. Balakrishna Pillai, will be taken at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

The deputy collector (RR), Kollam, Mr. K. Sugathan, who is also the Returning Officer (RO) for the Kottarakara constituency, did not arrive at any decision in this regard during the scrutiny process today.

After hearing the arguments put forth by the LDF and UDF sides for more than one-and-a-half hours, he postponed the verdict to. 3 p.m. tomorrow on the condition that the UDF side should file its arguments in writing before him by 11 a.m. tomorrow. The LDF side had already given its arguments in writing today praying for rejection of Mr. Pillai's candidature.

Supporters from the LDF and UDF sides were seen outside the RO's chamber with anxiety writ large on their faces right through the period during which the arguments were in progress inside the chamber.

At 11 a.m. Mr. T. V. Prabhakaran, lawyer, representing Mr. Pillai, and Mr. Cherunniyur Sasidharan Nair, counsel for Mr. V. Ravindran Nair, who is the LDF candidate from Kottarakara, entered the RO's chamber to place their arguments. The Adoor MP, Mr. Kodikunnil Suresh, also was present as a representative of Mr. Pillai.

Talking to reporters after coming out of the RO's chamber, Mr. Cherunniyur Sasidharan said that the gist of the arguments centered around whether Mr. Pillai would be entitled to get the benefits of Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People's Act.

He said his argument was that the Section would be applicable to Mr. Pillai as a member of the 10th State Assembly. However, for the May 10 elections, Mr. Pillai has submitted the nomination to contest as a candidate for the 11th State Assembly and hence Mr. Pillai cannot be covered by the section.

Moreover the conviction decreed against Mr. Pillai is still in force and that only the sentence has been suspended. Hence he cannot enjoy the benefits of the Section. Acceptance of the nomination can be tantamount to violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, he said.

Mr. Prabhakaran on the other hand refused to talk much to the presspersons on the arguments he had placed before the RO. He only said that both sides had placed strong arguments.

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Section  : State Elections
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