Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dealt a major setback to Union Minister and actor Suresh Gopi, ruling that the election petition challenging his victory from the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency is maintainable and must proceed to trial.
Gopi, who secured a historic win from Thrissur in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, became the first BJP MP from Kerala. The party, however, still does not hold a single seat in the 140-member state Assembly.
The court dismissed an interim application filed by Gopi, rejecting his argument that the petition, which alleges corrupt electoral practices, was legally unsustainable.
Delivering the order in open court, Justice Kauser Edappagath stated that the preliminary objections raised by Gopi “must fail” and affirmed that the election petition “is not liable to be dismissed.”
However, the court struck out one specific allegation related to the distribution of umbrellas in public places, including vegetable markets in Thrissur, citing procedural grounds under Order 6 Rule 16 of the Civil Procedure Code. Gopi will still face trial on the remaining allegations of corrupt practices.
The petition was filed by A.S. Binoy, district president of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) in Thrissur, who seeks to have Gopi’s election declared void under provisions of the Representation of the People Act.
The petitioner alleges that Gopi engaged in multiple electoral malpractices during the 2024 campaign. Among the charges are claims that he attempted to influence voters by invoking religious sentiments and using religious imagery in campaign materials.
The petition highlights flex boards allegedly depicting Gopi alongside images of Lord Krishna, Radha, and the Ram Temple, as well as campaign messaging with religious appeals. It also claims that speeches by BJP leaders urged voters to cast ballots with religious considerations in mind.
Further, the petitioner alleges that promises of monetary and other benefits were made to voters during the Model Code of Conduct period, with several instances publicised through social media platforms, including a Facebook page linked to BJP Thrissur.
Gopi, who won the election by a margin of over 70,000 votes, currently serves as Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The High Court’s order now paves the way for a detailed trial into the allegations.
With IANS inputs