Madras HC allows CPI(M) worker to challenge Alagiri's election

The Madras high court today allowed a CPI(M) worker to substitute himself in the place of party candidate late P Mohan in the petition challenging the election of Union chemicals and fertilizers minister MK Alagiri in the 2009 Parliament polls.

Initially, Mohan, the losing candidate, filed the petition challenging Alagiri's election from Madurai Lok Sabha constituency alleging that he had bribed voters. However, Mohan died on October 30 last year due to some illness.

Following this, A Lazar, the alternative candidate of the CPI(M) for Madurai, moved the high court seeking to substitute himself in the place of Mohan in the petition.

Allowing his plea, justice V Dhanapalan said the election petition will be listed after two weeks for hearing.

In his counter-afidavit, Alagiri had opposed Lazar's petition contending that the latter had no locus standi to substitute himself in the petition filed by Mohan.