Repoll order a victory in battle against bogus voting: UDF

The United Democratic Front and the Congress welcomed the Election Commission’s decision to hold repoll in four booths in Kasaragod and Kannur.

They termed it the “first win in the long drawn battle against organised and planned casting of bogus votes”.

Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the UDF would extend unconditional support to the Election Commission in its attempt to cleanse the election process. The UDF was optimistic that the EC’s actions would evolve a deterrent against casting of bogus votes in elections, he said.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Mullappally Ramachandran termed the EC action as the first win for the Congress and the UDF in their moral battle against bogus voting that had been going on in an organised manner in several constituencies in Malabar for over 50 years.

He wanted the Election Commission to conduct a comprehensive probe into allegations of bogus voting at Dharmadom, part of the Kannur Lok Sabha seat, and Thalasserry and Koothuparamba, part of the Vadakara Lok Sabha seat.

Mr. Ramachandran said the State Police Chief’s plea for more time to probe the charges of manipulation in postal ballots of policemen on election duty was a tactic to prolong investigations.