Congress charges CPI(M) of stealing voting equipment in order to lower the polling percentage

Congress charges CPI(M) of stealing voting equipment in order to lower the polling percentage

Election

When comparing this year's voting percentage to that of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said that one of the factors contributing to the decline in turnout was the claimed seizure of election apparatus by the governing CPI(M).

Venugopal said that the CPI(M) had entirely taken over the electoral apparatus with the intention of lowering the polling percentage.

The Congress said on Saturday that the governing CPI(M) in Kerala had manipulated the election apparatus and harassed voters in an attempt to lower the turnout percentage, a day after voting for the state's 20 Lok Sabha seats ended.

When comparing this year's voting percentage to that of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said that one of the factors contributing to the decline in turnout was the claimed seizure of election apparatus by the governing CPI(M).

Voter participation ended with a significant decline, with the percentage standing at 70.22 percent at 8 p.m. yesterday, despite increased political passion and excitement surrounding the general elections for Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha seats.

Even though this number was noteworthy, it was much lower than the 77.84 percent voting percentage that was recorded in the Lok Sabha elections of 2019.

Venugopal said that three to five percent of the state's polling places had malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs), which created lengthy delays in the election process and uncomfortable standing in line for hours in the sweltering heat for voters.

Ninety percent of these EVM issues, according to the senior Congress leader, happened in booths with a strong UDF.

Because there was no seating, drinking water, or illumination in the polling booths where people waited for hours to cast their ballots because of EVM malfunctions, the voting procedure was harassing for the voters.

"The election machinery was completely hijacked by the CPI(M) with the aim of bringing down the polling percentage," he said.

The pro-UDF wave and the anti-incumbency mood against the state and federal governments, according to Venugopal, would guarantee that neither the LDF nor the BJP-led NDA win any seats in Kerala, notwithstanding the purported machinations by the governing Left party.

Additionally, he said that the Congress will analyze the state's polling procedure and take necessary legal action in response to the results.