In Kochi, Kerala, K Surendran, the BJP state chief and NDA candidate challenging Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, faces a significant legal hurdle with 242 criminal cases against him. Complying with legal requirements, Surendran recently disclosed the specifics of these cases in the party’s publication, spanning three full pages.
Similarly, K S Radhakrishnan, the BJP candidate for the Ernakulam constituency, is entangled in approximately 211 cases.
George Kurian, the state general secretary of the BJP, clarified that most of these cases stem from the Sabarimala protests of 2018 and are currently under judicial scrutiny. He attributed the surge in cases to police action following party-led protests and strikes.
Reiterating the mandatory disclosure of candidates’ legal entanglements, BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh highlighted the challenges faced by nationalists in certain regions of the country, underscoring the perseverance required in such contexts.
According to Kurian, Surendran’s cases primarily comprise 237 related to the Sabarimala protests, with the remaining five linked to various demonstrations across Kerala.
The BJP and its affiliates orchestrated widespread protests in 2018 against the Kerala government’s compliance with the Supreme Court verdict allowing women’s entry into the Sabarimala shrine.
While the case details of other party candidates are awaited, the nomination filing deadline for the Lok Sabha elections is April 4. Scrutiny of nominations will be conducted on April 5, with the last date for withdrawal set for April 8.
As of today, the Election Commission has received 18 nominations, including those from notable figures like Left candidate M Mukesh from Kollam and BJP candidate Ashwini M L from Kasaragod.
