Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullappally Ramachandran has accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of unleashing an attack on its Kasaragod candidate Rajmohan Unnithan and disrupting an election meeting ahead of Sunday’s repoll in three booths in the constituency.
In a statement here on Friday, Mr. Ramachandran said the CPI(M) was resorting to high-handed tactics to prevent free and fair election campaigning in four polling booths, the fourth one in the Kannur Lok Sabha constituency.
‘A turning point’
The Election Commission had ordered a repoll after being convinced that the election in these places was not free, fair and independent. The decision for repoll itself was a turning point in Kerala’s political history, he said. Mr. Ramachandran expressed fear at the vitiating law and order situation as a result of the insensitivity of the police force. He wanted the Election Commission to shore up security in the four polling booths to give confidence to the electorate to cast their votes fearlessly and in a free and fair manner. He wanted the Chief Electoral Officer to take punitive action against erring poll officials.
Mr. Ramachandran condemned CPI(M) workers’ attempt to assault mediapersons who tried to capture on camera the attack on Mr. Unnithan.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the CPI(M) had perpetrated the attack on Mr. Unnithan because the party feared a drubbing in the Lok Sabha election. He wanted the police to take stern action against those responsible for the attack.
