For a state which was gearing up for bypoll in as many as six assembly constituencies, the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to conduct the voting only in Pala on September 23 did come as a surprise.
The poll panel said it has gone by the rule book in the case of Pala. On October 9, six months would have elapsed since the assembly seat fell vacant following the death of Kerala Congress leader K M Mani. As per rules, the poll panel has to hold by-election within six months of an assembly seat falling vacant.
Going by that logic, why was Manjeshwaram assembly seat in Kasaragod left out? The constituency has remained unrepresented for nearly a year, since the death of MLA P B Abdul Razak.
Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala, Teeka Ram Meena explained.