The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala is trying to sabotage the upcoming election to the State Legislature, according to a senior Congress leader.

KC Joseph, MLA and former minister has written to the Election Commission of India complaining against the efforts by the CPI(M) to manipulate the election process.

“As a prelude to manipulate the polling, the CPI(M) is busy deploying party loyalists in Kerala Government Service as polling officers and electoral staff to man all polling booths in the State,” Joseph told The Pioneer. He said he has written a comprehensive letter to the Election Commission of India listing the malpractices being committed by the ruling party.

“They themselves know that the LDF is in for a total rout and are trying to rig the election with the help of State government officials owing allegiance to the  party. Senior CPI(M) activists have been handpicked by the party leadership from the employees unions affiliated to the party,” said Joseph, deputy leader of the Congress legislature party. 

“Government Staff who do not subscribe to the ideology of the CPI(M) and those who are members of trade unions affiliated to other political parties are kept away from poll duties,” he said.

He also alleged that the Social Justice Department was  planning to introduce postal votes to all those voters who are above 80 years of age and those who are physically challenged. “This too is with an intention to manipulate the polling. Each booth in the State has at least 100 to 150 such voters and the CPI(M) activists are past masters in manipulation,” he said.

Joseph pointed out that even CPI(M) leaders had come out questioning the fairness of the strategy being pursued by the party leadership. “Early this month Prof KM Sreekumar of Kerala Agricultural University, who heads the CPI(M) controlled teachers’ wing had openly declared that a party MLA by Kunhiraman  threatened him with dire consequences when the former objected voters  entering polling booths repeatedly to cast votes. When Sreekumar saw people who had cast their votes turning up again and again to cast votes impersonating as other voters, he objected to it. Kunhiraman who rushed to booth warned him  that he would get the professor’s legs chopped if he does not allow the impersonators to cast votes,” said Joseph.

But Chief Minister Pinarayi Viujayan scoffed at the allegations and said Kunhiraman was the best person he has ever seen.