THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Friday said his party would not protect anyone who has indulged in casting bogus votes. At a press conference, Kodiyeri said the CPM had not asked anyone to cast bogus votes. “Impersonation is criminal offence. If someone has done it then he will have to face the legal consequences. The votes cast by impersonation are illegal. Cases should be registered against such persons and legal action should be initiated. Let them face action. The CPM does not intend to support such persons,” he said. Kodiyeri said there was nothing wrong in chief minister praising CEO Teeka Ram Meena. “The chief minister is the head of the government. The government has to give full support and assistance to the CEO,” he said.
The CPM leader said the party had thought taking legal recourse against Mr Meena’s unilateral recommendation to disqualify a panchayat member who had allegedly cast bogus votes. With the State Election Commission clarifying that CEO had no powers to disqualify any elected member of local bodies, the issue is a closed chapter now.
Kodiyeri dared former chief minister Oommen Chandy to publish the list of 10 lakh voters whose names were illegally removed from the voters list. The CPM or the state government has no role in preparing the electoral rolls. “A leader like Chandy who has been chief minister twice and opposition leader is fully aware of the facts. But he is trying to score political points by blaming the CPM and the government,” he added.
Chandy should provide the list of 10 lakh voters to the CEO and seek action.
On the controversy of postal ballots of police personnel, the CPM leader said the party had not deputed anyone to collect postal ballots. He said there was a practice of one person collecting the postal ballots and giving it to the returning officer. However, the situation has changed now. Each voter has to send the postal ballot by post individually.
The case has been registered on the basis of voice message and the cop in question is himself responsible.
