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Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan greets a elder national astatine a poling presumption astatine the Pinarayi Panchayat Junior Basic School successful Kannur connected Thursday. | Photo Credit: S.K. MOHAN
The 2nd signifier of the section assemblage elections successful the State wrapped up astir peacefully successful the 7 bluish districts connected Thursday, signaling a higher elector turnout of 76.08% compared to the confederate districts, which saw 70.91% of the electorate workout their voting rights connected December 9.
There were isolated complaints of bogus voting, procedural irregularities, and glitches successful physics voting machines. While each 3 fronts exuded assurance of a comfy triumph crossed section bodies, the time witnessed heated exchanges betwixt the ruling Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front implicit the issues of alleged golden theft at Sabarimala and the cases of rape against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil.
CM’s charge
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Sunny Joseph in Kannur and elder Congress person Ramesh Chennithala in Thiruvananthapuram enactment their wager connected the probe into the suspected pilferage of golden from Sabarimala to crook the tables successful favour of the UDF. Mr Joseph’s contention that the 2nd rape lawsuit against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, successful which helium was granted bail by a tribunal successful Thiruvananthapuram, was an ‘orchestrated one’ drew crisp reactions from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who, aft voting, slammed ‘womanisers and intersexual perverts’ (in the UDF) for intimidating survivors from seeking justice.
On Sabarimala, helium maintained that the authorities had firmly aided the transgression probe and the people of the law. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan and Mr. Chennithala sought to antagonistic Mr Vijayan’s outburst by pointing to intersexual battle allegations faced by CPI(M) leaders, including legislators. Mr. Chennithala urged the Chief Minister to halt protecting specified individuals successful his party. Mr Vijayan was besides flayed for allegedly delaying enactment connected a intersexual harassment ailment against a erstwhile Left-backed legislator and filmmaker.
Media spotlight
The emergence of Mr. Mamkootathil from hiding for astir a fortnight to formed his ballot in Palakkad drew media spotlight, adding substance to discussions astir the cases against him. The Mamkootathil controversy besides exposed interior fissures successful the Congress, peculiarly regarding the quality of his expulsion. KPCC president’s connection that the 2nd ailment against Mr. Mamkootathil was ‘well-drafted’ and that the ailment was sent via email with wide governmental motives was rejected by Mr. Satheesan, who argued that a ailment should people beryllium fixed successful a well-drafted form.
Congress wide secretary K.C. Venugopal said successful New Delhi that the latest remarks by Mr. Vijayan were aimed astatine diverting nationalist attraction from the existent issues that plague governance successful the State.
While the archetypal signifier of the canvass successful the confederate districts successful Kerala connected Tuesday centred connected the acquittal of actor Dileep in a rape case, the 2nd signifier revolved astir the Mamkootathil case. Comments connected the Congress’ tacit knowing with the Welfare Party of India (WPI) and the government’s perceived nonaccomplishment connected aggregate fronts, including development, besides came to the fore connected polling day.
