The United Democratic Front (UDF) has alleged that Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers captured booths and indulged in double voting in Kannur’s Taliparamba constituency during the Kerala Assembly election. The Congress-led front has demanded that repolling in the constituency.
Congress state working president K Sudhakaran alleged that booth capturing took place with the help of election officials in Anthoor municipality and five panchayats. He added that the UDF would approach the court if repolling does not take place.
“UDF candidate V P Abdul Rasheed was not allowed to visit the polling booths in the constituency,” Sudhakaran said, further alleging that there was extensive rigging took place in the Dharmadam constituency. This is a serious allegation as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is contesting from Dharmadam in the Kerala Assembly election.
Several allegations of bogus voting were levelled amid polling. UDF candidate Praveen Kumar alleged fraudulent voting in Nadapuram town of Kozhikode district. Reportedly, a voter by the name Ayesha could not exercise her franchise as someone had already voted in booth 10, roll number 286. The incident was brought to the attention of Kumar, who filed a complaint with the District Collector over fraudulent voting.
Kumar also alleged that CPM activists stopped him from entering some booths. The UDF had alleged that Nadapuram has the highest double votes as more than 6,000 such votes existing.
A similar incident to that of Ayesha took place in Kannur’s Thazhechovva. Police took a man into custody after allegedly casting a vote in someone else’s name in booth 73. According to reports, the accused downloaded the voter slip of the actual voter from the Voter Help app. Just like Ayesha, the actual voter could not exercise their franchise as the accused had already cast the vote. After the incident came to light, the Kerala Police registered a case after the presiding officer filed a complaint.
In another incident, a man was sent back for trying to cast a second vote from polling booth 67 in Kalarcorde, Alappuzha. The person in question wore a helmet and attempted to cast a second vote. The officials on duty asked him to remove his helmet, but he refused. Following this, the officials sent him back.