V. Kunhikrishnan, MLA, has been asked to respond to a petition challenging his election filed by T.I. Mr. Madhusoodhanan was his rival candidate in the Payyannur Assembly constituency, where Mr. Kunhikrishnan had won independently after being expelled from the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The petition alleged that Mr. Kunhikrishnan had committed election malpractice by spreading false propaganda against his rival candidate. The Chief Justice of Kerala had constituted special venches to hear election petitions related to the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly General Election. Akbar, V. Muraleedharna, M.J. Sebastian, Sajeev Joseph, and Reji Cheriyan are also to be considered by the special benches.