Union Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi has urged the Election Commission to conduct verification of nearly 10,000 voters transferred to the Kannur Assembly constituency from neighbouring areas in view of the serious allegation about large scale transfer of voters by the Communist Party of India-Marxist CPI(M) ahead of the by-election in the constituency on November 7.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme at the Press Club here on Friday, Mr. Ravi said the allegation that thousands of voters from the neighbouring constituencies had been transferred to the Kannur Assembly constituency within three or four months after the Lok Sabha election should be taken seriously. Such a massive transfer of the voters to a constituency was unheard of, he said alleging that a CPI(M) 'party cell' in the civil service was carrying out the mass transfer of voters to the constituency with the help of top officials.
The Minister said the use of manipulated electoral roll as a political strategy to win elections would be a violation of democracy.
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Stating that the District Collector's role in ensuring free and fair election was most relevant, he said that if there was any serious failure on the part of the Collector as had been alleged by Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran, the Collector should voluntarily abstain from the election duties for strengthening the people's trust in the election process.
Mr. Ravi also said the people's verdict of the three by-elections in the State would be reflected in the outcome of the elections.