The United Democratic Front (UDF) has claimed that footage of bogus voting in a polling booth at Pilathara here has lent credence to its stance that large-scale electoral malpractices had taken place in the district on the polling day on April 23.
The disclosure by a Malayalam news channel of footage of alleged bogus voting in a booth at the Pilathara AUP School in the Payyannur Assembly segment, which is in the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency, has strengthened the UDF’s resolve to wage a legal battle against polling officials who “colluded with those indulging in electoral malpractices.”
The footage released by Mathrubhumi TV shows women, including an alleged local body member, casting votes in the booth more than once.
“Bogus voting is a reality in any election in Kannur district as the CPI(M) has been trying to subvert people’s mandate,” K. Sudhakaran, UDF candidate in Kannur, said at a press conference here on Saturday.
The UDF would go to any extent in its legal battle against bogus voting, he said. The CPI(M) was creating a tense situation that rendered it impossible for people to react against bogus voting.
Collector blamed
He said the District Collector, who is District Electoral Officer, was inactive when instances of bogus voting were brought to his notice.
In many booths in the district polling continued till 11 p.m., which was unheard of in electoral history.
Other booths
The Congress leadership alleged that large-scale bogus voting was reported in booths at Malappattam, Kuttyattoor, Mayyil and Kolachery in the Taliparamba segment in the Kannur parliamentary constituency, many of them recorded polling percentage above 95%. Polling ended in two polling booths at Pinarayi at 10.20 p.m., they said.