Raju, the sole representative of Janadhipatya Kerala Congress from Thiruvananthapuram Central, was sentenced to three years by Nedumangad Magistrate Court on January 4 for evidence manipulation. His plea for a stay, heard by Justice Nirmaljeet Kaur, was dismissed, cementing his ineligibility under electoral laws.

Stepping down as minister last December under an LDF agreement, Raju aimed for a swift political resurrection. But the court’s rejection closes that door, with nomination papers due by March 23. Political corridors in Thiruvananthapuram buzz with fallout analysis.

The case originated when Raju, a budding lawyer, was accused of altering an undergarment evidence in a drug case. Scientific scrutiny proved interference, leading to a saga of appeals spanning decades. Now, it torpedoes his candidacy at poll time.

Echoing a prior rejection—when V.S. Achuthanandan vetoed his nomination citing moral issues—the verdict amplifies scrutiny on LDF’s candidate choices. As Raju weighs Supreme Court options, the front must pivot quickly for the high-stakes seat.

This episode highlights the enduring grip of judicial accountability on Indian politics, where old skeletons can upend alliances and ambitions in the final hour.