Thiruvananthapuram/Kannur: More reports of bogus voting has been reported from Kerala, a few days after elections were held in the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Congress leaders from across the state have alleged and even come out with evidence to prove unfair electoral practices during voting. In most cases the Left parties have been cornered with wrongdoing as several credible instances of bogus voting were reported from their strongholds, especially in north Kerala. It is now alleged that electoral frauds occurred in polling booths in Alappuzha and Mavelikkara Lok Sabha constituencies.
In Alappuzha constituency, returning officers will report to police a case where CPI leader and Kayamkulam municipal councillor Jaleel S voted in two booths in Perumbalam.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the BJP have already registered a complaint saying Jaleel voted as voter 800 at booth number 89 at Onnamkutti Paddy Research Centre and also as voter 636 at booth no. 82 at Koippally Karaima School.
The UDF also alleged an SFI activist voted for the daughter of a local CPM leader residing abroad at booth no. 77 in Mavelikkara constituency’s Kurathikkadu St John’s MSC Upper Primary School. A plea against the booth-level officer too will be registered over this fraud.
Meanwhile, Kannur District Collector Mir Muhammad Ali registered the statements of polling officers, including the presiding officer, who were on duty at the UP School at Pilathara, Kalyasseri. He however refused to comment on it. Six bogus votes have been allegedly cast in booth no. 19 at this school.
Earlier it was reported that Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala, Teeka Ram Meena, has sought reports from Kasargod and Kannur district collectors on alleged bogus voting at various polling booths in the Kasargod Lok Sabha constituency.
"We have got complaints from certain places. The Election Commission will take further action in this regard. We are waiting for the report. We'll examine all such complaints," Meena had told reporters.
Further action would be taken after examination of the video clipping, Meena said.
The Congress party had released visuals to show that bogus votes were cast in a booth at Pilathara in Kasaragod during the Lok Sabha elections.
The visuals were procured by the Congress from the webcasting records of the Election Commission.
UDF leader K Sudhakaran, who is the Congress candidate in Kannur, had accused foul play in both Kannur and Kasargod districts in north Kerala.
Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala of the Congress had lashed out at the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) alleging that its leading party, CPM, has resorted to bogus voting fearing defeat in the polls.
He said the Left was trying to manipulate the public mandate and the Congress would initiate legal proceedings against bogus voting.
"From video evidence, it could be seen that the Left has cast around 5,000 bogus votes in Kasaragod constituency," Chennithala said.
