Kannur: The CPM has released visuals which the party said showed five persons casting more than one vote at Pamburuthy school in Thaliparamba. According to the CPM, the bogus voters were Muslim League workers.
On Tuesday, CPM had alleged that UDF activists had cast the votes of 28 non-resident Keralites in the Pamburuthy school. The charge was made by CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who also released a list of the 28 names. According to Kodiyeri, the bogus votes were cast in booth no: 166 of the school.
The visuals show certain people arriving at the booth on more than one occasion. However, it has been pointed out that some of these people were casting open votes. A man named K Anas is seen reaching the booth thrice. Anas is voter no: 1139 at Pamburuthy school. Visuals show that he has changed his clothes twice while casting his vote three times.
Referring to the visuals, CPM had alleged that the bogus votes were also cast by V T Mustafa, Marshad, Sadiq and M Mubashir.
Another allegation raised by CPM is that Muslim League workers had cast bogus votes in booths 69 and 70 at Madayi in Kalliassery. However, the League responded that one Muhammed Fayiz seen engaging in the fraud was not its activist. He had links with the CPM, alleged the Muslim League.
Collector issues notice
Meanwhile, in the complaint filed over the Muslim League workers allegedly casting bogus votes at Puthiyangadi, two voters have been served notice by the District Collector summoning them. They are Ashik, who was found voting at booth no: 69 twice and Muhammed Fayiz, a voter of booth no: 69, who voted in booth no: 70 also. Both of them have been asked to appear before the Collector at 2pm on Thursday and give an explanation.
Puthiyangadi booth is part of Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency and the Kasaragod District Collector D Sajith Babu recorded the statements of the polling officials, including the presiding officer of booths 69 and 70, on Wednesday. The booth functioned at Pazhayangadi Jamaat UP School. Muhammed Fayiz and Ashik were identified from the webcasting visuals and Collector’s final report will be prepared after hearing their version too.
Counter accusations
Earlier, the UDF had accused CPM workers of bogus votes.
With the Election Commission coming down heavily on CPM workers involved in bogus voting incidents in Kasaragod and Kannur Lok Sabha constituencies, more such complaints started pouring in from other seats in the northern Kerala even as the Left party tried to play it down.
three women were. The Chief Election Officer Teeka Ram Meena had directed the police to slap cases on three women, involved in bogus voting in Kasargod Lok Sabha constituency, for impersonification, abetment of bogus voting and dereliction of duty. The three women are present and former members of the CPM.
In Kozhikode, District Congress Committee president T Siddique alleged that a local CPM leader and his wife tried to cast a 'second vote' in another booth, after casting their ballots in Beypore. Siddique has filed a complaint before district collector S Sambasiva Rao.
