The Communist Party of India (Marxist) here has alleged that campaign materials of Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidates in the district are being destroyed and defaced.
In a statement here, CPI(M) district secretary M.V. Jayarajan said the campaign posters, banners, and hoardings of P.K. Sreemathy, K.P. Satheesh Chandran, and P. Jayarajan, LDF candidates in Kannur, Kasaragod, and Vadakara constituencies respectively, had been destroyed or defaced. At Kommal Vayal near Kodiyeri near Thalassery, even a wall used for campaign graffiti of Mr. Jayarajan had been demolished, he alleged. He also alleged that there was a social media campaign tarnishing the candidate for Kannur Lok Sabha constituency, which was in violation of the election rules.
Mr. Jayarajan said that walls with LDF campaign graffiti at some places had been defaced used engine oil. Photographs of candidates on posters and cut-outs of the LDF candidates had been disfigured by snipping their faces, he alleged. He said that campaign hoardings had been destroyed in large scale at Kunnothuparamba, Parad, Poyilur, Mokeri, Trippangottur, Cheruvanchery, Chendayad, Panur, Pathayakkunnu, Kodiyeri, Kunneru-Chittadi, Shivapuram, Ayippuzha, Naduvanad, and Nadal.
Explosion
In addition to this, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party were engaged in raising provocative slogans. While the CPI(M) and the LDF were organising peaceful programmes, their political rivals were trying to destroy a peaceful poll atmosphere.
The CPI(M) district secretary said the explosion of a country bomb at the house of the RSS functionary Shibu Muthiramala at Taliparamba taluk, seriously injuring two children, lent credence to the allegation that the CPI(M)’s political rivals were tying to subvert the election. The RSS was trying to amass weapons by creating unrest during the election period, he noted. Calling on LDF workers not to be provoked, he said they should organise protest meetings and rallies to expose trouble-makers. The LDF lodged complaints with the Chief Election Officer, District Collector, and the District Police Chief.