Alappuzha, Kerala : In a startling revelation, senior CPI(M) leader and former Kerala minister G. Sudhakaran has admitted to manipulating ballots in previous Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at a gathering of former leaders of the NGO union affiliated with the CPI(M) in Alappuzha district, Sudhakaran disclosed that postal ballots were “fixed” in favour of CPI(M) candidates in the 1989 parliamentary elections.
Addressing the audience, Sudhakaran said, “In the 1989 Lok Sabha elections, we opened the postal ballots for KV Devadas, who was contesting from the Alappuzha constituency on a CPI(M) ticket, verified them, and fixed them.” He further added that members of the CPI(M)-linked NGO union in Kerala have a history of purchasing the postal ballots of government officials and casting votes in favour of their own candidates. “Some ballots are even bought directly by union members and voted upon. Communist party members should stay away from such practices,” he warned.
Sudhakaran, who served as an MLA for five terms and held ministerial office for a decade, added that he had no fear of legal consequences. “Now, there is no problem even if a case is filed against me,” he said, making light of the potential legal ramifications of his statement.
The CPI(M), a key constituent of the opposition INDI alliance, has not yet issued an official response to Sudhakaran’s admission. The revelation comes amid a broader national debate on the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs), with several political leaders, Including Rahul Gandhi, and civil society groups calling for a return to paper ballots.
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