P.N. Ravindran, J.

The common order passed by the Kerala State Election Commission in three different proceedings initiated against the petitioners herein under Section 4 of the Kerala Local Authorities (Prohibition of Defection) Act, 1999 is under challenge in these writ petitions. They were therefore heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. The petitioners were elected to the Parassala Block Panchayat as official candidates of the Indian National Congress in the election held in September 2005. The petitioner in W.P.(C) No.318 of 2009 was elected from Division No.10, the petitioner in W.P.(C) No.337 of 2009 was elected from Division No.9 and the petitioner in W.P.(C) No.1396 of 2009 was elected from Division No.1 of the Parassala Block Panchayat. The Parassala Block Panchayat consists of 13 Divisions. The candidates set up by the Indian National Congress won in eight out of the thirteen divisions and the candidates set up by the Left Democratic Front in the remaining five. The official candidates of the Indian National Congress including the petitioners constituted the majority among the members representing the 13 divisions of the Parassala