Opposition leader Satheesan demands comprehensive probe by independent agency into ‘unprecedented bad organisation of election’ in Kerala

Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan has demanded a comprehensive probe by an independent agency into what he alleged was an unprecedented bad organisation of the Lok Sabha polls in Kerala

Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan has demanded a comprehensive probe by an independent agency into what he alleged was an unprecedented bad organisation of the Lok Sabha polls in Kerala.

Addressing a press conference at his office at North Paravur, Mr. Satheesan accused the Election Commission of having miserably failed in ensuring free and fair election in the State. In many places, voters had to queue up for hours, many returned after being fed up and many who returned to the booths weren’t able to vote.

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He asked, “Why was there so much time lag between voting of two voters in select places. Why polling had to extend as late as 10 p.m. even in polling booths without not too many voters. Whether there was a deliberate attempt to delay voting during day time. Did officials deliberately sabotage voting and whether there was any direction to that effect. All these things should be investigated.”.

“Never before had the Electronic Voting Machines developed snags in such a widespread manner. Thirty minutes to an hour was lost in repairing them but polling time was not extended to compensate for that lost time in voting. The Election Commission did nothing to address the shortcomings despite lodging repeated complaints. Why did the Commission spent crores to maximise voter turnout when they couldn’t even make adequate arrangement. Polling officials were unaccountable.”

Mr. Satheeshan accused that the Commission even failed to publish a clean voter’s list removed of doubling of names, deceased voters, and voters who were not residing in an area for six months. Why no action was taken against the Block level officers who failed to report these shortcomings.

He shot down the query whether the complaint about the conduct of election was borne out of concern over impending defeat. “This is to ensure that such a badly managed election never again happen in Kerala,” he said.