Kottayam: The Election Commission has ordered the District Collector to accept the nomination of UDF candidate in Kottayam Jose K Mani, sitting MP, who belongs to Kerala Congress (M).
The Comission on Tuesday found no defects in the nomination papers submitted by Jose.
Causing anxiety to the UDF, decision on its candidate’s nomination papers in Kottayam was deferred on complaints from the LDF that it contained defects during scrutiny on Monday.
The decision was taken by the District Collector in his capacity as the returning officer after the Chief Election Agent of the LDF candidate, Mathew T Thomas, contended that the nomination of Jose K Mani had a "serious defect."
In a written complaint, the LDF agent held that Mani's nomination showed his father K M Mani as chairman of Kerala Congress (M). However, in the Election Commission's website C F Thomas is shown as the party chairman.
Considering the objection, the returning officer deferred the decision on Jose K Mani's nomination to March 26.
However, with the latest directions from the EC, it is assumed that all the hurdles have been cleared for the KC-M leader to contest the poll from Kottayam.