Thiruvananthapuram, August 13 – The Congress has alleged that the electoral rolls in Kerala’s Thrissur Lok Sabha seat were manipulated in favor of BJP candidate and actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi. The Congress leader and former MP T N Prathapan filed a complaint against Gopi on Tuesday, demanding a case be registered against him for allegedly furnishing a false declaration.
The Congress’ accusations come amidst growing concerns over the integrity of electoral rolls across the country following Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s claims of “vote theft”. In Kerala, the Congress has been vocal about what it perceives as irregularities in the voter list of the Thrissur constituency.
Prathapan alleged that people from outside the constituency were brought in to include them in the voter list. He claimed that this move was designed to benefit Gopi, who went on to win the election and become the BJP’s first-ever MP from Kerala.
The Congress has demanded a thorough investigation into these allegations. The party has also requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that the electoral rolls are fair and transparent, and that every eligible voter is able to exercise their right to vote without any hindrance or manipulation.
Meanwhile, the BJP has rejected these allegations as baseless and politically motivated. The party has maintained its stance that it won the election fair and square, and that there was no manipulation of voter lists.
This is not the first time such allegations have been made against the BJP in Kerala. Last year, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala had accused the BJP of trying to influence the voter list for the Assembly elections in Pathanamthitta district. The issue was hotly contested, with both sides presenting their versions of events.
As the political landscape of Kerala continues to evolve, these allegations and counter-allegations are likely to shape the discourse leading up to the next Assembly elections scheduled for 2026. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
