Conspiracy theories on cross-voting, vote commerce fly thick and quick

By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the state exercised its franchise, the three main political fronts are busy calculating all doable permutations and mixtures to try to decipher the ballot consequence. While the ruling and opposition fronts are assured of garnering a cushty majority, the NDA predicts a hung meeting that may enable the third entrance a major say. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories and tales of cross-voting and vote commerce are additionally doing rounds.

While the LDF expects to win round 85 seats, the UDF has laid declare to something between 75 and 85. The BJP, however, hopes to safe not less than seven seats this time. In the meantime, all three fronts have provide you with their very own variations of cross-voting in key constituencies. Continuing the Left’s tirade on BJP and UDF over an unholy nexus, CPM performing secretary A Vijayaraghavan alleged that points confronted by the saffron get together, such because the rejection of its candidates’ nominations in some constituencies, confirmed the get together was not approaching the polls critically. 

“The BJP could not even ensure a triangular contest in several constituencies,” he mentioned.At the identical time, accusing the CPM of becoming a member of arms with PDP and with BJP in lots of pockets, Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala claimed solely the UDF was in a position to keep away from such unholy alliances. “CPM workers have been unleashing violence across the state due to their fear of defeat,” he mentioned. He additionally alleged widespread bogus voting in Taliparamba, the place he demanded a re-election.

Congress state president Mullappally Ramachandran expressed concern relating to the ballot consequence in Manjeshwar, the place BJP state president Ok Surendran contested. Alleging cross-voting, Mullappally mentioned the data he had obtained from the grass-root staff in Manjeshwar was terrifying.  “If Surendran manages to win there, CM Pinarayi Vijayan will be solely responsible,” he alleged. 

‘CPM-Cong deal to defeat BJP in 45 seats’.

The NDA alleged that CPM and Congress had entered right into a consensus to defeat BJP in round 45 seats the place the saffron get together had excessive probabilities of successful. Senior BJP chief P Ok Krishnadas mentioned such a transfer to defeat NDA was the results of an understanding between Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and CPM basic secretary Sitaram Yechury. Surendran claimed each LDF and UDF confronted the elections with the assist of communal forces. “Though the SDPI publicly announced its support to UDF in Manjeshwar, the organisation was supporting the Left in several other constituencies,” he mentioned in Kasaragod.