'Legislative Assembly is no place for job fraudsters and killers'

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Wednesday that affidavits submitted to the State Election Commission by candidates showed that the CPI (M) had fielded candidates ranging from job fraudsters to Taliban model killers. The BJP too had candidates with criminal backgrounds, including one convicted for murder.

Chief Minister said that the people of Kerala would thwart the attempt of criminals and fraudsters to enter the Legislative Assembly of Kerala.

Among the candidates of the three political fronts in Kerala, there are cases against 943. Of these, 685 belong to the LDF. A total of 617 cases are pending against 67 candidates of the CPI (M), while the NDA candidates face a total of 152, Mr. Chandy said.

A. A. Rashid, the candidate of the CPI (M), contesting from Aruvikkara constituency, is the third accused in the Kerala University Assistant Grade appointment scam. The fourth accused in this case, B. S. Rajeev is the election committee secretary of CPI (M) candidate T. N. Seema, who is the CPI (M) candidate from Vattiyoorkavu constituency, he said.

The answer sheets of Kerala University Assistant Grade examination held in 2005 were destroyed and the appointment rank-list tampered for squeezing in 200 odd candidates having allegiance to the CPI (M). As per the charge-sheet of this case, the then syndicate members, A. M. Rashid and B. S. Rajeev, conspired with the first and the second accused viz. the vice chancellor and pro-vice chancellor for financial gains. The accused are on bail in this case that is under the consideration of the Vigilance Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge, Thiruvananthapuram.

Another CPI (M) candidate, T. V. Rajesh, is the 33rd accused in the Ariyil Shukoor murder case that shook the conscience of Kerala. In April 2011, Abdul Shukoor (21) was killed at Keezhara; a CPI (M) stronghold, in broad daylight. A public trial of his offence was conducted before killing him; an act that reminded one of the Taliban. As per the police, the killing was in retaliation to a stone pelting incident against the vehicle convoy that carried the CPI (M) district secretary P. Jayarajan and T. V. Rajesh. The charge against T. V. Rajesh is that even after coming to know about the conspiracy to kill Shukoor, he did not try to prevent it; an offence punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years. This case has a total of 33 accused that include 16 key office-bearers of the CPI (M) and the DYFI. Based on the deceased mother's plea in the High Court, the investigation of the case has been handed over to the CBI, he said.

The BJP candidate in Parasala constituency, Jayachandran Nair, has been convicted in a murder case with life imprisonment, against which an appeal has been filed in the High Court. He was convicted for murdering two DYFI activists in 1990. Other BJP candidates, who are in the election fray, and facing cases, include, B. B. Gopa Kumar, contesting from Chathanoor constituency for indulging in forgery and cheating; Bheeman Raghu of Pathanapuram constituency for physically assaulting a shop owner and Sivadasan Pillai of Chadayamangalam constituency for a cheating case in land transaction, Mr. Chandy said.

Benoy Kurian, the CPI (M) candidate in Peravoor is an accused of stone pelting at the Chief Minister. The incident took place on October 27, 2013 in Kannur, when the Chief Minister's car was attacked by a group of CPI (M) activists. The incident took place amid the prevailing threat of the CPI (M) that the Chief Minister would not be allowed to set foot in the district of Kannur. In that incident, the Chief Minister suffered injuries on his chest. This case is now before the Sessions Court, Kannur.

The CPI (M)'s candidate in Thaliparamba, James Mathew, is the second accused in a case of abetting suicide. James Mathew threatened Sasidharan, the headmaster of Tagore Vidyaniketan School, following which he committed suicide, after leaving a suicide note. Mr. Mathew is facing a total of 11 cases.

M. M. Mani, the Udumbanchola candidate of the CPI (M) is currently facing investigation in a murder case. This case, in which Anchery Baby, a Youth Congress worker was shot dead in 1982, is currently before the Additional Sessions Court, Thodupuzha. M M Mani also faces a case for making a highly provocative and shocking public speech, in which, he listed out the killings carried out by the CPI (M) in Idukki. This case is now before the First-Class Magistrate Court, Thodupuzha.

And among the top CPI (M) leaders, the Opposition leader, V S Achuthanandan has six cases against him. Former CPI (M) State secretary Pinarai Vijayan is accused in 11 cases, including the SNC Lavalin case.