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Tag: Kerala Polls 2021

  • Neoptism prices: CPM throws weight behind Kerala minister KT Jaleel

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after the Lok Ayukta discovered Higher Education Minister KT Jaleel responsible of nepotism and abuse of energy, the CPM has come out in help of the minister, who’s all set to maneuver the High Court in opposition to the decision.

    Confirming his resolution to strategy the upper courtroom, Jaleel identified to TNIE that the matter was earlier introduced earlier than the governor in addition to the High Court and each had dominated in his favour.

    Speaking to reporters after the CPM secretariat assembly right here on Friday, appearing state secretary A Vijayaraghavan stated there was no want for Jaleel to step down as minister.

    Echoing the occasion management’s stand, Law Minister A Okay Balan too stated there was nothing improper in appointing folks on deputation.

    ‘No priority of min stepping down over decrease courtroom remarks 

    “We need to verify if the person appointed has the requisite qualifications. If that is the case, there is no issue. Jaleel has already explained this to the Governor and the High Court,” stated Balan.

    “The chief minister has three months to act upon this verdict, if required. There’s no precedence of a minister stepping down based on remarks made by a lower court. Jaleel can approach the court for a stay,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the Opposition got here down closely on the CPM management for safeguarding the minister.

    Alleging that the choice to reject the Lok Ayukta verdict to guard Jaleel amounted to difficult the rule of democracy, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala stated the CPM was giving a go-ahead to corruption by stating the minister needn’t resign.

    “There have been many instances of ministers stepping down following adverse remarks from courts. This is the same CPM that made a hue and cry seeking K M Mani’s resignation just because a court raised suspicion. Mani even resigned at the time. Now, the Lok Ayukta has clearly stated the minister is guilty of nepotism and is unfit to be a minister. This is not even just a suspicion,” he stated. 

    Congress state chief Mullappally Ramachandran additionally demanded the minister’s instant resignation. “The chief minister has been providing undue protection to him. At least now, he should oust Jaleel from the cabinet,” he stated.

    JALEEL NOT BEING OUSTED AS HE KNOWS CM’S SECRET DEALS: VMURALEEDHARAN

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has refused to oust Okay T Jaleel from his cabinet because the Higher Education Minister is conscious of the alleged clandestine offers involving the CM, Union Minister V Muraleedharan has alleged.

    Muraleedharan advised reporters right here on Saturday that no different minister or CPM chief loved the privilege that the Chief Minister has bestowed on Jaleel.

    “Even though the Lok Ayukta ordered that Jaleel be ousted from the cabinet for violation of his oath of office, the minister says he will wage a legal battle. Has the minister taken this stance with the blessings of the Chief Minister?” Muraleedharan requested.

    The Union Minister stated it was the primary time within the historical past of the state that the Lok Ayukta has ordered {that a} minister ought to step down.

    The Lok Ayukta’s order was primarily based on robust proof in opposition to the minister.

  • Kerala Elections: CPM assesses it is going to get 80-85 seats

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the Left entrance started its inventory taking after the meeting elections, the CPM feels that the competition might probably have an in depth end. Even because the district committees have begun their respective evaluation, the social gathering is of the view that it might be capable of win round 80-85 seats.

     The social gathering is assured of profitable again Nemom, BJP’s lone sitting seat. Top sources within the social gathering expressed confidence that the BJP’s vote share will take a dip, even because it feels that the social gathering might lose a variety of sitting seats. The BJP’s assured votes haven’t all been forged for some cause. The simmering resentment between the BJP and BJDS too might contribute in just a few pockets. 

    “Several sitting seats witnessed a tough fight, as quite a few ‘sure’ seats turned overnight into fighting seats. There will be a number of sitting seats that we may lose, with tight fight at Alappuzha, Ambalappuzha, Thrissur, Kozhikode North and Ranni. LDF would have lost in Kuttiyadi had the candidate not been changed at the last minute. It’s not going to be a sweep, but a close fight,” stated a high chief.  

    Going by the evaluation of district unit leaders, south Kerala will stand with the Left. In Thiruvananthapuram district the place the LDF has now 10 seats, the entrance confronted a tricky combat in lots of locations. Vattiyoorkavu, Kattakada, Varkala, Chirayinkeezhu, Neyyattinkara, Kazhakoottam and Attingal are seen as certain seats whereas the social gathering is assured of getting Nemom and Vamanapuram. In Parassala and Nedumangad, the social gathering feels that the UDF might rating upset victories. 

    The social gathering Kollam unit noticed that this time too, all the district will stand with the Left. The CPM assessed that Kundara, Kottarakkara, Pathanapuram, Kunnathoor and Chathannoor will likely be certain wins. Contrary to earlier assessments, the social gathering now feels that J Mercykutty Amma can have a cushty win right here with a lead of greater than 5,000 votes. “The surveys and a general impression that P C Vishnunath may win have led to the party improving its performance. She will lose only if the CPI votes are not polled,” a supply stated.  

    In Kottarakkara, Okay N Balagopal might get a lead of round 16,000 votes with round 6,000-8,000 votes coming from Kareepra panchayat. Okay B Ganesh Kumar of KC(B) might win with a lead of 21,000 votes. In Chathannoor, CPI’s G S Jayalal might get a lead of greater than 20,000 votes. 

    The social gathering is, nonetheless, not very snug with the evaluation of Kollam and Karunagappally constituencies. In Kollam, the social gathering observes that the lead might be simply round 1,900 votes whereas in Karunagappally, the margin will likely be simply 500-odd votes. In Chavara, the social gathering feels that Sujith Vijayan might get a lead of two,000 votes whereas in Eravipuram, it might be 18,000 votes. In Alappuzha, issues will not be very rosy. Though it’s going to be a decent combat, P P Chitharanjan will win by not less than 5,000 votes. 

  • 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.

  • Kerala Elections: Keenly-watched seats see decrease turnout

    Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The voter turnout within the meeting elections declined sharply from 77.35 per cent in 2016 to round 74.02 per cent (as of 10pm on Tuesday) this time. The preliminary evaluation primarily based on the provisional voting proportion launched by the Election Commission reveals {that a} appreciable variety of swing votes weren’t solid in round two dozen keenly-watched constituencies.

    In 22 seats the place elections had created lots of public curiosity, polling dropped by 1-8 per cent from 2016. This implies that regardless of intensive campaigning, the three fronts did not deliver fence sitters to the cubicles. Such seats embrace  Kazhakoottam, Nemom, Konni, Palakkad, Pala and Thrissur.

     N M Pearson, political observer, stated, “The low turnout indicates absence of swing voters who often decide the winners in the race. But it’s hard to predict who will benefit from this as many constituencies have witnessed three-cornered fights.”

    Normally, the Left used to profit from the low voter turnout. “But things have changed over the years and there was a considerable number of swing votes even among the rank and file of mainstream political parties today. Overall, there was a stark contrast in the campaigning of Left and UDF as the former sought the mandate projecting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while there was a leadership uncertainty in the UDF,” he stated.  Political pundits additionally conceded that the controversies raised by the Opposition did not deliver voters to the cubicles.

  • 74.02% good rating, Kerala! Now the lengthy wait

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Creditable turnout although tad decrease than final time .Results on May 2 .Complaints of bogus voting regardless of ballot panel’s steps .Two aged folks collapse and die .LDF eyes 85 seats.Cong assured .NDA present essential  

    Kerala has made its resolution on who will rule the state for the subsequent 5 years however you’ll know the reply solely on May 2. Braving an unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic and summer season warmth, voters lined up at polling cubicles throughout the state on Tuesday to train their franchise within the meeting elections. The common voter turnout stood at a creditable 74.02 per cent, although it was a tad decrease compared to the 77.35 per cent recorded within the 2016 election.

    While the ruling Left Front expressed confidence of retaining energy with a cushty majority, the opposition UDF camp can be elated.

    Going by the UDF evaluation after the polls, the entrance ought to win wherever between 75 to 85 seats. The BJP-led NDA hopes to make its presence felt with authoritative victories in 5 to seven seats along with ending second in about 10 seats.

    Significantly, the Sabarimala subject dominated the political discourse on the polling day, with the LDF, UDF and BJP buying and selling costs. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed Lord Ayyappa and all different gods would stand with the Left Front for being there for the folks, to which Congress veteran A Okay Antony retorted the Chief Minister ought to first apologise to the Lord for the Sabarimala fiasco.

    The state additionally witnessed incidents of violence in some pockets, together with at Kazhakoottam in Thiruvananthapuram the place CPM and BJP staff clashed with one another.

    The BJP candidate within the constituency, Sobha Surendran, staged a sit-in whereas LDF candidate and Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran flayed the cops. Violence was additionally reported in Haripad the place CPM and Congress staff clashed. In Kannur, an IUML employee was hacked.

    In many closely-fought constituencies, the voting proportion remained comparatively low with BJP’s lone sitting seat — Nemom — recording 69.80 per cent in comparison with 74.11 per cent in 2016.After the voting ended, opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala exuded confidence that the UDF will come again to energy with an emphatic victory.

    ‘Left sure of winning at least 85 seats’

    “The general sentiment among voters across the state indicates that the masses have exercised their franchise against the Left government. The publicity campaigns have not come to the support of the Left,” mentioned Chennithala. He alleged that the Left cadre, sensing defeat, had unleashed violence in opposition to UDF staff throughout the state.  

    However, the Left management rejected the opposition claims and expressed confidence of successful 85 seats or extra. “The Left is sure of winning at least 85 seats. The extent of victory would be known only after careful analysis of the Left wave that swept the state,” mentioned CPM politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai.

    The CPM additionally suspects cross-voting between the UDF and the BJP in a number of constituencies. The BJP camp, although, is but to make an evaluation. While most pollsters really feel it might be an in depth name, one factor is obvious — the bipolar political nature of the state is all set to remodel right into a tripolar one with the BJP-led NDA making inroads into many pockets.

  • Hotels, eateries shut throughout Kerala on election day

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Numerous lodges and retailers remained closed within the district on election day. Low turnout because of the election vacation and the federal government’s path to permit all workers to solid their vote had been the explanations, stated house owners.

    “The number of guests would be less since people would be busy with the polling. It is unviable for me to keep my restaurant open if the footfall is low. Also, the Labour Department has directed us to allow all workers to cast their vote. I thought it would be better to keep the shop closed on the day,” stated the proprietor of a well-liked restaurant at East Fort.

    Sooraj, a authorities worker hailing from Thrissur, stated hoteliers like him confronted issue to find a restaurant. “Usually I would have my breakfast from a restaurant at Bakery Junction. Today I’d walk a little to find another one,” he stated. Small eateries which had been open in most components of the town had good enterprise on the day.

    G Sudhiesh Kumar, hotelier and patron of the Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association (KHRA), stated enterprise has not picked up after the post-lockdown stoop. “It would be uneconomical to open the establishment if you don’t get a minimum number of guests. I think those who did not open the shop feared the low turnout. The KHRA general secretary had asked all members to facilitate the workers to cast their vote,” he stated.

    The state authorities had declared a vacation for all workplaces and academic establishments on the polling day. The General Administration Department’s order stated will probably be relevant to all establishments, together with authorities workplaces and colleges. Commercial institutions had been requested to present paid go away to workers. The Labour Commissioner was requested to make sure paid go away for workers of personal establishments. 

  • CPM employees thrash presiding officer at Kerala polling sales space close to Payyannur

    By Express News Service
    KANNUR: A presiding officer was overwhelmed up allegedly by CPM employees in a sales space at Payyannur constituency. 

    The officer has been recognized as Muhammad Ashraf Kalathil of Panur, a professor at Paral DIA College, Thalasserry.

    The incident passed off when Ashraf stopped a voter who reached sales space quantity 105 A (Kandankali School) with a ration card. This result in an argument between Ashraf and the CPM employees current there. Later, irate social gathering employees thrashed Ashraf. 

    In the guide of the Election Commission, ration card has not been included as a doc for use as an id card,  stated Ashraf.

    Due to the incident, the polling was stopped for round half-hour. Ashraf was taken to Payyannur Taluk hospital for remedy and he has lodged a grievance with the EC concerning the incident. The polling resumed after one other presiding officer took cost.

  • 40% voter turnout at midday in Kerala polls dominated by Sabarimala situation

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nearly 40% of the citizens within the state had solid their votes within the first 5 hours of polling within the Assembly election and the by-election to Malappuram Lok Sabha seat, on Tuesday.

    Minor clashes between BJP and CPM staff had been reported from the Kazhakkoottam constituency. Several individuals, together with ladies, sustained accidents within the conflict at Kattayikonam. The BJP staff alleged that the CPM males unleashed violence on them after they had been distributing slips to voters.

    A 65-year-old voter, Gopinatha Kurup collapsed and died within the polling sales space at Vallakmkulam in Alappuzha. Two instances of bogus voting had been reported within the state. 

    The Sabarimala situation dominated the political discourse on voting day as effectively. While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan opined that Lord Ayyappa and different deities had been with the LDF, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala mentioned the LDF authorities would face the wrath of Lord Ayyappa and likewise of the individuals.

  • Kerala polls: UDF sales space agent in Trikaripur assaulted, candidate requires re-election

    By Express News Service
    KASARAGOD: The Congress-led UDF on Wednesday demanded the election be stopped in Pilicode panchayat in Trikaripur constituency after a UDF sales space agent was allegedly assaulted by CPM staff.

    The CPM has denied the cost.

    UDF candidate M P Joseph, a former UN diplomat, stated his sales space agent James Maroor, who can also be the district secretary of Kerala Congress, was assaulted at sales space no. 127 at Government Model School at Vellachal in Pilicode panchayat — a bastion of the CPM.

    In a video launched on social media, Joseph stated Maroor was assaulted by 4 individuals and his telephone snatched away. “The presiding officer did not intervene and the micro observer defended the assaulters,” he stated. Speaking from a wheelchair in a personal hospital, Maroor stated the CPM staff requested him to depart the sales space as they “do not allow anyone else to be in the booth”.

    “When I told them to maintain the democratic decorum, they said there was only their decorum and no democracy,” Maroor stated, additional including that somebody hit his head from the again.

    “I told the presiding officer to protect me. He did not move his finger. There were two police officers — one with a gun — outside the booth. They did not even get up from their seats. Then the assaulters took me outside and assaulted me,” he stated.

    Joseph stated the polling must be stopped and held on one other day with full police safety and with Maroor because the UDF agent. “I have informed the observer,” he stated.

    The LDF candidate and CPM chief M Rajagopalan stated that he was not conscious of the alleged incident as he was obtainable at different location.

    When contacted, panchayat member of Vellachal and CPM chief C V Radhakrishnan stated no such incident occurred. “I am at the model school and no such incident happened here. The polling is going on smoothly,” he stated. The UDF candidate got here to the sales space and left, he added.

    When requested if there was a UDF agent within the sales space, he stated: “There is nobody here.” 

    In Pilicode and neighbouring Kayyur-Cheemeni, all of the panchayat wards are gained by the CPM-led LDF. In 2020, the Congress gained one ward in Pilicode panchayat due to “some local issues in the CPM”, stated a CPM employee.

    During the campaigning, Joseph had flagged 73 cubicles within the constituency, calling for video surveillance and additional safety.

  • Kerala polls: State Congress chief seeks votes of LDF backers to beat BJP in Manjeshwar

    By Express News Service
    KASARAGOD: Congress state president Mullappally Ramachandran’s last-day enchantment to the LDF supporters to vote for the UDF in Manjeshwar “to stop the BJP” has not gone down properly with the LDF and the BJP. 

    The UDF candidate AKM Ashraf endorsed the view of Ramachandran. “The LDF is not in the picture in Manjeshwar and so all the secular voters should come together and elect me and defeat the BJP,” stated Ashraf.

    LDF candidate and CPM chief VV Rameshan stated Ramachandran had no sense of Tulunadu and was speaking gibberish. “The LDF made considerable progress during the campaign. Today, the fight is between the LDF and the BJP. Mullappally’s appeal comes due to his sense of defeat,” he stated.

    BJP state president Ok Surendran, who’s the NDA’s candidate in Manjeshwar, stated the souls of Sarath Lal and Kripesh wouldn’t forgive the Congress for making an attempt to strike up an alliance with the LDF. “Mullappally’s appeal is a shameless begging of votes. It exposed the helplessness of the Congress,” he stated and added that the Congress chief made a public enchantment for LDF vote sensing a defeat by the hands of the NDA in Manjeshwar.

    Ramachandran held his floor and stated “no one should shed crocodile tears” over Youth Congress employees Sarath Lal and Kripesh, who have been murdered allegedly by CPM employees in February 2019.

    ALSO READ | 2.74 crore voters, 140 seats: Kerala all set for polls after keenly fought marketing campaign

    He, nevertheless, refused to simply accept the assist of the SDPI, the political outfit of the People’s Front of India, a far-right Islamic organisation. The SDPI had publicly introduced its assist to Ashraf. The LDF had struck regional understandings with the SDPI in 72 meeting constituencies, he added.

    Veteran Congress chief Oommen Chandy stated the UDF didn’t want any outdoors assist to win in Manjeshwar.

    Congress chief in Manjeshwar Manjunath Alva stated the bottom actuality within the constituency was completely different from different locations. “Here, only 10% of the voters are affiliated to political parties, and so such an appeal will not have much impact. The UDF has reached out to all sections of society and will register a comfortable win in Manjeshwar,” he stated.

    Manjeshwar is seeing a decent three-cornered combat. In 2016, Surendran misplaced within the constituency by 89 votes to Indian Union Muslim League’s PB Abdul Razak. However, within the by-election held in 2019, necessitated by the loss of life of Razak, the IUML defeated the BJP by almost 8,000 votes. The LDF has a 26% vote share within the constituency. In 2006, it got here from the third place to win the constituency, pushing the IUML to the third place.