Even though Kerala High Court’s stay for two weeks on its own order disqualifying Azhikode MLA K.M. Shaji on a petition by his rival candidate has brought him some respite, the stayed disqualification has put him and his party on the defensive with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] calling for re-election in the constituency.

While Mr. Shaji, who has been granted two-week stay for filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against the disqualification order, has denied the charge that he had used religion to seek votes in the 2016 Assembly election, the CPI(M) has welcomed the disqualification order and called upon the United Democratic Front (UDF) to accept the order and face by-election.

The CPI(M) camp views the disqualification order as a vindication of the charge in the election petition filed in the court by its candidate M.V. Nikesh Kumar that appeals were made to voters by Mr. Shaji and his election campaigners on grounds of his religion.

‘‘I will challenge the disqualification order in the Supreme Court,’’ Mr. Shaji told The Hindu when contacted.

Shaji denies charge

Wondering how he could use religious card to influence election in his favour in the constituency having only 21% Muslim voters, he said neither his party nor he had indulged in any campaign that used religious appeal for winning the poll.

He could not be held responsible for some pamphlets circulated by some vested interests to make it appear that he used religion for election campaign, he said.

He also stated that during his campaign, he had categorically said that he did not want votes of communalists and fundamentalists.

Talking to reporters here on Friday, CPI(M) district secretary P. Jayarajan said that six campaign pamphlets had been seized by the police from the house of the president of the Valapattanam panchayat during the election time. The High Court had accepted those as clear evidence, he noted adding that the pamphlets had called upon voters not to vote for a candidate who was not a ‘Muhammadan’ with an appeal to vote for ‘K. Muhammad Shaji.’

CPI(M) charge

The disqualification verdict showed that Mr. Shaji would play any ‘dirty game’ to win a few votes. The CPI(M) leader also alleged that Mr. Shaji had stated when Gujarat was ruled by Narendra Modi that Gujarat was a model of development.