StevieBavin8727 at 05:41, 21 July 2025

2025-07-21T05:41:44Z

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{for|politician from Tamil Nadu|A. Raja}}
{{Indian patronymic|Raja|Anthony}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = A. Raja
| native_name =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| constituency_AM = [[Devikulam (State Assembly constituency)|Devikulam]]
| assembly = Kerala Legislative
| termstart = May 2021
| termend = Present
| alma_mater = [[Government Law College, Coimbatore]]
| website =
| footnotes =
| source =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1986|10|17}}
| birth_place = [[Kerala]]
| spouse = Shyni Priya
| party = [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
| children = Akshara, Aradhya
}}

'''Anthony Raja''' is an Indian politician who is serving as the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] of [[Devikulam (State Assembly constituency)|Devikulam]] Constituency from May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Commission of India|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS1188.htm?ac=88|access-date=2021-05-02|website=results.eci.gov.in}}</ref> He was disqualified for being elected from an [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|SC]] constituency as he was a Christian and not a member of any SC community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-20 |title=Kerala HC declares A Raja's election null and void: Can Christians, Muslims claim SC status? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/kerala-high-court-a-raja-election-null-void-dalit-christian-8508351/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Benny |first=Navya |date=2023-03-20 |title='Practising Christian, Not A Scheduled Caste Member': Kerala High Court Annuls CPM MLA A Raja's Election From Reserved Constituency |url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/kerala-high-court-cpm-a-raja-election-void-conversion-hindu-reserved-constituency-224262 |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref> The decision was stayed by the Supreme Court subsequently and the final decision on the matter is pending as on 3 January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sebastian |first=Sheryl |date=2023-04-29 |title=Supreme Court Stays Order Of Kerala High Court That Annuled CPM MLA A Raja's Election From Reserved Constituency |url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-stays-order-of-kerala-high-court-that-annuled-cpm-mla-a-rajas-election-from-reserved-constituency-227509 |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-26 |title=Supreme Court reserves verdict on Devikulam MLA A. Raja’s appeal against Kerala HC invalidation of his 2021 poll victory |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-reserves-verdict-on-devikulam-mla-a-rajas-appeal-against-kerala-hc-invalidation-of-his-2021-poll-victory/article68685665.ece |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Members - Kerala Legislature |url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members.htm |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.niyamasabha.org}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
A. Raja was born on 17 October 1986, to Anthony Lakshmanan and Easwary, who were plantation workers. He is an advocate by profession, practising in Munsiff Court, Devikulam since 2009. He finished his LLB from Govt. Law College, Coimbatore.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ദേവികുളത്ത് അഡ്വ.എ രാജ സിപിഐ എം സ്ഥാനാര്‍ത്ഥി|url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/devikulam-cpim-candidate-a-raja/930300|access-date=2021-05-23|website=Deshabhimani|language=ml}}</ref>

== Political career ==
Raja defeated D. Kumar of UDF by 7848 votes in the Kerala Legislative Assembly Election, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ആലയ്ക്കാപ്പള്ളി|first=സാജു|title=രാജ- ദേവികുളത്തിന്റെ രാജാധിരാജ|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/election/2021/kerala-assembly-election/districtwise/idukki/adv-raja-wins-devikulam-assembly-seat-1.5637490|access-date=2021-05-23|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523111747/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/election/2021/kerala-assembly-election/districtwise/idukki/adv-raja-wins-devikulam-assembly-seat-1.5637490|url-status=dead}}</ref> He erred in taking oath as Member of Legislative Assembly and was fined Rs 2,500.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-06-07|title=Kerala CPI(M) MLA A. Raja asked to pay fine of ₹2,500|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-cpim-mla-a-raja-asked-to-pay-fine-of-2500/article34754363.ece|access-date=2021-06-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In March 2023, [[Kerala High Court]] declared that his election to [[Devikulam Assembly constituency]] is void on grounds of the production of fake caste certificate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fake caste certificate: Devikulam MLA Raja's election declared void |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/mar/21/fake-caste-certificate-devikulam-mla-rajas-election-declared-void-2557958.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raja, A.}}
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 2021–2026]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]

{{Kerala-CPIndiaMarxist-politician-stub}}

A. Raja Kerala politician - Revision history

StevieBavin8727 at 05:41, 21 July 2025