In this petition filed under Secs. 80, 100, 101, 123 and 127 A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (hereinafter referred to as "the R.P. Act" for short) , the petitioner (Dr. Pookkunhi Koya) challenges the election of the Ist respondent herein (Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed) from the U 06 Lakshadweep Parliamentary Constituency (reserved for Scheduled Tribe ) in the Parliamentary election held on 16-4-2009 and the result of which was declared on 16-5-2009. The petitioner was a candidate and nominee of the political party called National Congress Party. The first respondent returned candidate contested the election as a candidate of the Indian National Congress. The other two contestants were respondents 2 and 3 (Lukmanual Hakeem and Dr. K.P. MuthuKoya). The 2nd respondent was the candidate and nominee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist Party) ["the C.P.I.(M)" for short] and the 3rd respondent was the nominee of the Bharathiya Janatha Party ["the B.J.P." for short].

2. The dates which are relevant for the purpose of this election petition are the following:- 1 Date of Election Notification 23-03-2009 2 Last date for filing nomination 30-03-2009 3 Date of scrutin