PTI, KOCHI: The Kerala High Court Friday declared as invalid the election of Indian Union Muslim League MLA K M Shaji on a plea claiming that he indulged in a communal campaign, amounting to corrupt practices, to win the 2016 assembly polls.
Disqualifying Shaji, who had won from the Azhikode seat, Justice P D Rajan also barred him from contesting polls for six years.
The judge, however later stayed his order for two weeks on a plea by Shaji’s lawyer, seeking adequate time to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the verdict.
The MLA would continue to be a legislator for this brief period, legal experts said.
The IUML, a partner in the Congress led opposition United Democratic Front, won 18 seats in the 140-member assembly in the 2016 elections.
One IUML member passed away last year.
The court Friday also directed the Assembly Speaker and the Election Commission to take appropriate action.
