The Kerala High Court on Wednesday delivered a significant setback to Union Minister and actor Suresh Gopi, ruling that the election petition challenging his victory from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency is maintainable and must proceed to trial.
Gopi won a historic win from Thrissur in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, opening the account for the BJP in Kerala, where the party at present does not have a single Legislator in the 140 member Assembly.
Dismissing an interim application filed by Gopi, the court rejected his contention that the petition alleging corrupt electoral practices was not legally sustainable.
Justice Kauser Edappagath, pronouncing the order in open court, held that the preliminary objections raised by the MP “must fail” and that the election petition “is not liable to be dismissed.”
However, the court struck off one specific allegation relating 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.
The court clarified that Gopi would still face trial on the remaining allegations of corrupt practices.
The petition was filed by A.S. Binoy, district president of the AIYF in Thrissur, who has sought 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 Lok Sabha campaign.
Among the charges are claims that Gopi attempted to influence voters by invoking religious sentiments and using religious imagery in campaign materials.
The petition points to flex boards allegedly depicting Gopi alongside images of Lord Krishna, Radha, and the Ram Temple, as well as campaign messaging that invoked religious appeals.
It is also alleged that campaign speeches by BJP leaders urged voters to cast ballots with religious considerations in mind.
Further, the petitioner claims that promises of monetary and other benefits were made to voters during the Model Code of Conduct period, and that several such instances were publicised through social media platforms, including a FaceBook page linked to BJP Thrissur.
Gopi, who won the 2024 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 sets the stage for a detailed trial into the allegations.