Kerala CPM leader arrested for allegedly interfering with the election

A local CPM leader has been charged by the police for unlawfully tampering with an old voter’s right to cast her ballot at a “vote-at-home” event on Thursday in Kalliasseri, Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency. Five officers were also charged by Kannapuram police in relation to the event. The officers were earlier suspended by the Kannur district collector for allegedly not taking the necessary steps to stop outside meddling in the voting process.

Devi, 92, was at her home casting her ballot when the event happened.

E K Ganeshan, a former CPM Kapothkavu branch secretary and booth agent, was caught on camera unlawfully tampering with the voter’s voting process. District Collector Arun K Vijayan suspended special polling officer Pournami V V, polling assistant Prajin T K, micro observer Sheela A, civil police officer Legeesh P, and videographer after receiving a complaint from BJP officials.

Riju Amaljit P P, who was in attendance at the location. Devi’s vote will be void, the collector said.

The EC issues a warning.

The Election Commission has issued a warning, stating that officials who make mistakes while conducting “voting at home” for people with disabilities (PWDs) and elderly citizens over 85 may face severe consequences.

Panel of experts cautions against lenient authorities

Additionally, the district collector has suggested opening an investigation and taking administrative action against the poll workers. The deputy governing officer of Kalliasseri filed a complaint with the Kannapuram police, requesting that Ganeshan and the poll workers be charged for breaking the law and interfering with the electoral process.

Ganeshan is the main culprit, while poll workers are accused no. 2 through no. 6, according to the Kannapuram police. The district authorities’ first inquiry found that throughout Devi’s home voting process, outside intervention jeopardized the vote’s confidentiality. Ganeshan has been found to have violated both Section 171(c) of the IPC and Section 128(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, according to the collector’s report.

In the meanwhile, the Election Commission has issued a warning, stating that officials who make mistakes when performing “voting at home” for people with disabilities and senior citizens over 85 may face severe consequences (PwDs).

“On Thursday night, we got a report about the fraudulent vote in Kalliasseri. I gave the Kannur district collector my urgent instructions to proceed. The involved personnel were placed on leave around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, according to Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Kaul. Additionally, instructions were given on how to file complaints against the process tamperer. When conducting “voting at home” for older persons and those with disabilities, the CEO asked poll workers to uphold the dignity and fundamental elements of the democratic process.

Meanwhile, in order to guarantee free and fair voting in the Kannur, Kasaragod, and Vadakara seats, Kannur DCC president Martin George has filed a protest with the Chief Election Commission.

According to the UDF, the Kalliasseri incident demonstrates that pro-CPM officials in Kannur district voted fraudulently while pretending to be casting a ballot from home. “We had expressed concerns that the CPM leadership was meddling in older persons’ voting procedures at home. A UDF representative in Kannur said, “The event that happened in booth 164 in Kalliasseri panchayat proves that.

Anticipating a loss in the elections, the CPM intends to undermine democracy itself. UDF leaders said that the Election Commission need to seriously consider the CPM’s attempt to sabotage a peaceful election process in Kannur, Kasaragod, and Vadakara Lok Sabha seats via massive violence and fraudulent voting.