BJP Accuses Election Commission of Colluding with CPM to Sabotage Kerala Polls
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit in Kerala has leveled serious allegations of a political conspiracy involving the Election Commission (EC), claiming it is acting as a "B team" of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to undermine the democratic process in the state. The controversy centers on the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Thiruvananthapuram sharing documents bearing the BJP's official seal with other political parties.
Suspended Official Linked to NGO Union and CPM
BJP state general secretary S Suresh, speaking on Saturday, asserted that the EC has joined forces with the state government and CPM in attempts to sabotage free and fair elections. He pointed to the suspension of Jaisil P Azeez, an official deputed to the EC, who is identified as a leader of the NGO Union's Secretariat Employees Association.
"We seriously suspect that the Election Commission has also joined the attempts by the state government and CPM to sabotage the conduct of a free and fair election in Kerala," Suresh stated. "The official who was placed under suspension for sharing documents with the BJP seal with political parties is an NGO Union worker. NGO Union members have sneaked into the EC with ulterior motives."
Suresh emphasized that Azeez was deputed to the EC due to his connections with the CPM and is allegedly behind the conspiracy involving the BJP's seal. "It needs to be investigated where he obtained the seal from. This incident proves the conspiracy against BJP within the EC," he added, demanding a high-level investigation into those involved.
Concerns Over Polling Officer Appointments in Nemom
The BJP leader also raised alarms about the electoral process in Nemom, where Labour Minister V Sivankutty is contesting. Suresh highlighted that the returning officer there is a labour officer under Sivankutty's jurisdiction, and over a hundred polling officers under this returning officer are from the labour department.
"He questioned whether the CEO was blind to the dangerous trend of the labour minister and department officials undermining the democratic process," Suresh remarked, suggesting potential bias and manipulation in the polling arrangements.
Formal Complaint Filed with Central Election Commission
In response to these allegations, the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have filed a formal complaint with the Central Election Commission. Suresh accused the CPM and EC officials of conspiring to sabotage elections in Kerala, particularly in Nemom, and called for immediate action to ensure transparency and fairness.
"CPM and EC officials are conspiring to sabotage the elections in Kerala, especially in Nemom. BJP and NDA have filed a complaint with the Central Election Commission against this," he concluded, underscoring the party's commitment to upholding electoral integrity.
