Congress alleges CPI(M) manipulation of poll machinery to suppress voter turnout

Congress alleges voter harassment and election machinery manipulation by CPI(M) in Kerala, causing a drop in voter turnout from 77.84% in 2019 to 70.22% in 2023. EVM glitches in 3-5% of booths, mainly in UDF strongholds, and lack of voter amenities contributed to the discomfort and discouragement of voters. The Congress claims the anti-incumbency sentiment towards state and central governments will lead to LDF and NDA's failure to win seats in Kerala, despite the alleged irregularities.

A day after polling concluded for the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the Congress on Saturday alleged that voters were harassed and the election machinery was hijacked by the ruling CPI(M) in the state with an aim to bring down the turnout percentage.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the alleged hijacking of the election machinery by the ruling CPI(M) was one of the reasons for the decrease in polling percentage this year as compared to the turnout in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Despite heightened political fervour and anticipation about the general elections for the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the process concluded with a notable decrease in voter turnout, as the figure stood at 70.22 per cent at 8pm yesterday.

This figure, while significant, was quite a drop from the polling percentage of 77.84 per cent registered in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Venugopal claimed that there were glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs) in three to five per cent of the polling booths in the state that lead to long delays in the election process which in turn caused discomfort to the voters who had to stand in long queues for hours in the intense heat.

The senior Congress leader alleged that 90 per cent of such EVM glitches occurred in booths where the UDF was strong.

''It was a polling process that harassed voters as no drinking water, sitting or lighting facilities were available in the booths where people waited for hours to vote due to the EVM glitches.

''The election machinery was completely hijacked by the CPI(M) with the aim of bringing down the polling percentage,'' he alleged.

Venugopal said that despite such alleged moves by the ruling Left party, the pro-UDF wave and the anti-incumbency sentiment against the state and central governments will ensure that the LDF and the BJP-led NDA do not win any seats in Kerala.

He also said that the Congress will be carrying out an analysis of the polling process carried out in the state and based on the outcome requisite legal steps would be initiated.

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