Thiruvananthapuram: The allegations by the ruling CPI(M) that two men had done bogus voting was confirmed by the State Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena yesterday.
He said three Congress-led UDF workers – Mohammed Fayiz, Abdul Samad and Mohammed K M – had cast bogus votes on 23 April in Kasaragod constituency during the Lok Sabha elections.
The LDF had earlier released digital evidence of the bogus voting in a polling booth in Kasaragod. The two men were initially suspected to be IUML workers.
Based on reports filed by District Collectors of Kannur and Kasargod districts, the CEO said strong action would be taken against those who engaged such acts.
Speaking to reporters in this regard, Meena said, “The polling officers have said that they had no knowledge about the electoral malpractices…Three persons have done bogus voting, as per the reports submitted by the returning officers.”
He also said that as per the reports, one of the persons had told the Returning Officer that a UDF polling agent had forced him to cast more votes.
On 29 April, the CEO had charged three women, including a panchayat member, for having cast bogus votes in the same constituency. however, the CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had rejected the CEO’s charge and had in turn criticised the officer saying that Meena was acting in accordance with UDF’s ploy.