Kasaragod: For the communist party, democracy takes a back seat when it comes to winning elections. Reports are now emerging that proxy voting took place in communist dominated areas of Kannur and Kasaragod constituencies.
Visuals of six persons, including a woman Panchayat member belonging to the communist party, have emerged of proxy voting. CCTV cameras have captured one person voting twice and other person voting for another. The presiding officer seems to be a mute spectator when open defiance to the law of the land was being carried out in front of the government official.
A voter named Padmini with register number 774 is seen voting and after the ink is applied on her finger she suddenly rubs it on her hair. One voter leaves the booth after he realized that someone has voted in his name. Besides, local leaders of the CPI(M), in violation of the moral code of conduct, are seen standing inside the polling booth.
The Chief Election Officer, Tikaram Meena, said that he has asked for the report about the issue. The District Collector and the Presiding Officer are responsible to answer to the serious accusation. The election officer has said that actions will be taken after more investigations into the visuals.
The proxy voting is not a new thing according to opposition leaders based in Kannur. They say these kinds of practices are widespread during elections and is done with the help of officials who are lenient to the communist party. CPI(M) usually threatens the booth agents into toeing the party practice.
Congress leader, K. Sudhakaran, said that he will move legally against the proxy voting done in the two constituencies. The Congress candidate for Kasaragod constituency, Rajmohan Unnithan, said that the democratic set up has completely broken down in the state.
