India Candidate's Appeal To Catholic Voters Voids His Election Win

In India this week, the Kerala High Court set aside the election of a winning candidate to the lower house of India's Parliament (the Lok Sabha) on grounds that would astound U.S. politicians. The Indian Election Commission's Model Code of Conduct provides that "there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes". After National Democratic Alliance candidate P.C. Thomas defeated his next-closest rival, P.M. Ismail, by less than 1,000 votes for the seat representing the Muvattupuzha constituency, Ismail petitioned the court arguing that Thomas violated the election code of conduct. The petition claimed that by printing his picture along side that of Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa on a calendar used as campaign literature, Thomas raised religious passions. The court agreed and declared Ismail, candidate of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, to be the winner of the parliamentary seat. The court, however, stayed its judgment for a month to permit an appeal to the Indian Supreme Court. The Indo-Asian News Service and Thir Uvananthapuram reported on the court's decision.