(1.) In this petition filed under Sec. 81 read with Sections 100,101 and 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, (hereinafter referred to as "the R.P. Act" for short) the petitioner (P. A. Moharnmed Riyas) challenges the election of the first respondent (M.K. Raghavan), the returned candidate from No. 05-Kozhikode Constituency of the House of People in the Parliamentary election which was held on 16-4-2009 and the result of which was declared on 16-5-2009. The petitioner contested the election as the official candidate of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) ["the C.P.I. (M)" for short] led by the Left Democratic Front ["LDF" for short]. The major constituents of the LDF were the C.P.I. (M), the Communist Party of India, the Kerala Congress (Joseph), the Janatha Dal and the Revolutionary Socialist Party. The first respondent was the candidate of the Indian National Congress and he contested the election as the candidate of the United Democratic Front ("UDF" for short). The major constituents of the U.D.F. were the Indian National Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League and the Kerala Congress (Mani).
(2.) The dates which are relevant for the purpose of this election petition are the following: 1 Date of election notification 23-3-2009 2 Last date for filing Nomination 30-3-2009 3 Date of Scrutiny 31-3-2009 4 Last date for withdrawal of Nomination 2-4-2009 5 Date of publication of Final List of candidates 2-4-2009 6 Date of Election 16-4-2009 7 Number of candidates contested 16 Mohammed Riyas, P. A. v. Raghavan, M. K.Ramkumar, J. 8 Date of declaration of election results 16-5-2009 9 Last date for filing Election Petition under Section 81 (1) of R.P. Act. 30-6-2009 10 The present election petition filed on 26-6-2009 11 Summons issued to the respondents on 17-7-2009
(3.) Besides the petitioner respondents 1 to 15 contested the election. The number of votes secured by the petitioner and respondents 1 to 15 are as follows: <FRM>643_ILR(KER)2_2010.htm</FRM>