State Election Commissioner V. Bhaskaran has disqualified Kanjiramkulam grama panchayat member Prasannakumari under the anti-defection law for contesting as a Congress candidate, without resigning the ward member’s position, which she had won as an Independent candidate. As per the law, she is barred from continuing as a member and banned from contesting the local body elections for the next six years.
Ms. Prasannakumari had contested as an Independent candidate from Ward 9 of the Kanjiramkulam grama panchayat in the local body elections in 2010. While her tenure was set to expire only on October 31, 2015, she filed nomination as a Congress candidate from the same ward on October 14.
Complaint
The Commission’s action was based on a complaint filed by CPI(M) member A.R. Shibu.