12 May 2011
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the election of Kodikunnil Suresh MP. The SC cancelled the ruling of Kerala High Court which rejected the election of Suresh who contested the polls from the Mavelikkara `reserved' constituency. The HC had stated that Suresh couldn't be treated as scheduled caste and issued the order after rejecting the petition submitted by his rival candidate RS Anil of CPI and other two voters.

Earlier, Suresh, a five-time MP, was disqualified by the court holding that he was not entitled to claim the benefits and privileges available to members of the Scheduled Caste.The petitioner alleged that he cannot be treated as from Scheduled Caste as he converted from Christian religion to Hindu. They also alleged that he submitted contradictory caste certificates as Hindu Cheramar and Hindu Pulaya . But SC did not recognize the same.
The SC made it clear that Suresh was born a Christian. But from 16 years onwards he is a follower of Hindu religion and Suresh said his community had accepted him and earlier he contested the poll four times as representative of Scheduled Caste. The SC which considered all these claims approved his election