Senior CPI(M) leader, five-time MLA, and minister G. Sudhakaran face legal scrutiny after admitting to tampering with postal ballots during the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. Acting on the directive of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the Ambalapuzha Tehsildar in Alappuzha district visited Sudhakaran’s residence to record his statement officially.
The move comes in response to instructions from the Chief Election Commissioner to the Alappuzha District Collector to investigate the matter and register a case. The CEO described Sudhakaran’s revelation as “extremely serious” and stressed the need for an FIR and a thorough probe.
Sudhakaran made the admission at a recent meeting of former leaders of the CPI(M)-affiliated NGO union in Alappuzha. “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 stated. He, however, warned current party members against indulging in such practices.
His statement has triggered sharp political reactions, particularly from the BJP. Former BJP Kerala president K. Surendran remarked that “people now clearly understand why the INDI Alliance opposes EVMs, the CPI(M) used to win elections through manipulations and fraudulent voting during the era of ballot papers. When those tactics failed, they turned against EVMs.” He further said that “both the Congress and the CPI(M) continue to engage in irregularities related to postal voting, with the support of certain officials”. The controversy is expected to escalate in the coming days, with growing calls for a thorough investigation and accountability.
