Kodiyeri Balakrishnan accuses CEO of being partisan

Thiruvananthapuram: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Tuesday hit out at Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena accusing him of ignoring election-related complaints filed by the party and targeting it party on the basis of rival complaints.

At a press conference, Mr Kodiyeri asked the CEO to end the  partisan approach to complaints and probe all plaints impartially. CPM would legally fight CEO’s arbitrary decisions, said Balakrishnan. The attack on CEO comes close on the heels of his decision to register cases of impersonation against three women who had allegedly polled bogus votes.

The CPM leader said there were allegations regarding bogus votes in Muslim League dominated areas. There were complaints in connection with voting in 156 booths in Kasargod parliamentary constituency, 138 constituencies in Kannur constituency, in Pampuruthy booth there was no webcasting, in Thaliparamba votes of 28 NRKs who were not present, were allegedly polled.

There were also complaints related to Akkiparamba booth No 77, booth 21 at Chenglai in Irikkur and Puthiyangadi in Kalliyasseri. Mr Kodiyeri said the CEO didn’t order detailed inquiry into these complaints.

The CPM state secretary said his party or the LDF were not against probe into complaints or bogus votes or other malpractices. However, it should not be selective and only against the LDF with a preconceived notion. “Our party is against unilateral action,” he said.

He alleged that the CEO had taken action against three persons without giving them an opportunity to explain their stand. “Before the collector could take their detailed statement action was initiated again them. This is against natural justice,” he added.

Mr Kodiyeri said the CEO had crossed his brief while announcing  action against a panchayat member. The CEO is not empowered to ask the panchayat member to step down. Only State Election Commission can unseat elected body representatives.

The CPM state secretary said immediately after the polls UDF claimed that they would sweep the polls. They said the polls were transparent and peaceful hence it is going to be 20 – 20 for them this time. After the CPM state secretariat meet, evaluated the voting in each constituency and came to the conclusion that LDF could win 18 seats, the UDF started raising allegations of bogus votes.

He said a couple of isolated incidents were cited to unleash propaganda against the LDF. “The CEO became party to the propaganda. He should have desisted from taking action on the basis of media trial,” he added.

Meanwhile, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the allegations of bogus votes against the party were part of an agenda. He demanded probe into the allegations of bogus votes against the Muslim League workers and the decision needs to be taken by the CEO.