Kerala High Court Orders Election Commission to Address BJP Candidate's Controversial Remarks

The Kerala High Court has mandated the Election Commission to take action regarding a complaint against BJP candidate B Gopalakrishnan, who allegedly made communal remarks during his campaign. The court has set a two-month deadline for the Commission to respond. Gopalakrishnan's comments, made in a now-deleted video, raised concerns about the lack of a Hindu MLA in Guruvayur, a significant pilgrimage site. The court's decision comes amid ongoing election preparations, emphasizing the need for timely action on such serious allegations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 27, 2026, 18:47 IST

Court Directs Action on Allegations Against BJP Candidate

On Friday, the Kerala High Court instructed the Election Commission to resolve a complaint against B Gopalakrishnan, a candidate from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), regarding his alleged communal statements made during his campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections. The court has set a two-month deadline for this decision.

The elections in Kerala are scheduled for April 9, with results expected to be announced on May 4.

In a video that has since been removed, Gopalakrishnan, who is contesting from Guruvayur, questioned why this significant pilgrimage site lacks a Hindu MLA. He was quoted saying, “I have been called on by Guruvayurappan to rescue the land from this half-century-long imprisonment in the hands of temple looters and temple-opposers.”

The Guruvayur Temple Police filed a case against him on March 22, citing provisions related to incitement intended to provoke a riot, as well as violations of the Representation of the People Act for fostering enmity during elections.

During the proceedings, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas raised concerns about the implications of Gopalakrishnan's remarks, urging the Election Commission to address the complaint promptly. He questioned, “Video has been removed, but what about the harm caused to the community, to society, and to the country?”

The court was reviewing a petition from Gokul, a leader of the Kerala Students Union, who claimed that no action had been taken regarding Gopalakrishnan’s comments. The Kerala Students Union is affiliated with the Congress party.

Gokul also pointed out that despite the FIR, the returning officer accepted Gopalakrishnan’s nomination instead of disqualifying him. The High Court ultimately directed the petitioner to first approach the Election Commission, noting that the issue is already under consideration by the chief election officer.

“Given that the election process has already begun, it is not suitable for this Court to make any comments that could influence the upcoming election,” the judge concluded.