Kannur witnessed widespread allegations of violence, bogus voting and intimidation throughout Thursday’s native physique elections, with leaders of the United Democratic Entrance (UDF), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) accusing the Communist Celebration of India (Marxist) of orchestrating systematic disruption throughout the district. The CPI(M), nonetheless, rejected the costs, counter-alleging that the UDF was resorting to false propaganda “in concern of impending defeat.”
District Congress Committee president Martin George claimed that large-scale bogus voting and assaults happened in CPI(M)-dominated areas, together with Anthoor, Malapattam, Kuttur, Mathamangalam, Vellur, Malur and Payyannur. He claimed that UDF sales space brokers had been threatened and expelled from a number of cubicles early within the day.
In keeping with him, ladies candidates had been amongst these assaulted and urged the State Election Fee to take strict motion towards officers who allegedly supported these irregularities.
Incidents of violence had been reported from Chengalayi, Cheruthazham, Kokkad, Kottiyoor, Mankunnu, Kadirur, Malur, Muzhakkunnu and Anthoor. At Chengalayi’s ward 1, two UDF polling brokers had been allegedly assaulted and denied passes. At Cheruthazham’s ward 16, a UDF sales space agent was allegedly overwhelmed contained in the Mandur LP College sales space. In Kadirur, UDF chief Okay. Lathika, the Panur block UDF candidate, was attacked contained in the sales space at Vetummal Mappila LP college, her voter listing was allegedly snatched and she or he was pushed and abused earlier than being admitted to a hospital at Thalassery.
In Malur panchayat, UDF candidate Amala and Youth Congress district secretary Rahul Mekkilery had been allegedly assaulted after they reportedly questioned makes an attempt at bogus voting. At Muzhakkunnu, district panchayat candidate Sajitha Mohan and two others had been allegedly attacked once they reportedly tried to stop impersonation. The police resorted to lathicharging to disperse a gathering exterior the sales space. Extra incidents of assaults had been reported from Anthoor, the place Congress constituency president Prajosh was allegedly overwhelmed inside a sales space.
A number of injured individuals had been admitted to hospitals in Payyannur, Thalassery and Kannur. At Kottiyoor, UDF employee Okay. Aslam was allegedly overwhelmed on his solution to voting and was later hospitalized with critical accidents.
IUML district leaders Abdul Kareem Cheleri and KT Sahadulla accused the CPI(M) of “fearing democratic resistance.” They alleged mass deletion of voters from the ultimate rolls, compelled open voting, intimidation of officers and widespread bogus voting in CPI(M) stronghold cubicles, together with early morning expulsion of UDF brokers.
BJP Kannur South district president Biju Elakkuzhi alleged that over 150 open votes had been compelled in some cubicles and demanded an Election Fee probe. He alleged that the CPI(M), “unable to belief even its cadre, relied on intensive impersonation and coercion.”
Different remoted incidents included the vandalism of a BJP sales space convenor’s scooter at Punnol Kurichiyil and UDF candidate N Abdul Rahman’s allegation of bogus voting at Panoth ward, the place his daughter and sales space agent was allegedly obstructed at Kankol LP College.
CPI(M) rejects prices
CPI(M) district secretary KK Ragesh dismissed all allegations because the UDF’s “try to masks its humiliating weak point”.
He alleged the UDF lacked candidates in a number of wards and had confronted police instances for solid nominations. He claimed that LDF staff had been themselves attacked in locations corresponding to Taliparamba and Pariyaram and mentioned “Saturday’s end result would ship one other setback to the UDF.”
Printed – December 12, 2025 02:49 pm IST