Following the conclusion of polling for the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, the Congress on Saturday accused the ruling CPI(M) of hijacking the election machinery to lower the voter turnout.
AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal said that the alleged manipulation of the election machinery by the CPI(M) contributed to the decline in polling percentage compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Despite much political excitement, voter turnout for the Kerala Lok Sabha elections dropped to 70.22 percent by 8 PM yesterday, a decrease from the 77.84 percent recorded in 2019.
Venugopal claimed that there were glitches in electronic voting machines (EVMs) in three to five per cent of the polling booths in the state that lead to long delays in the election process which in turn caused discomfort to the voters who had to stand in long queues for hours in the intense heat.
He also criticised the lack of basic amenities such as drinking water and seating facilities at booths, exacerbating the discomfort of voters.
The senior Congress leader accused the CPI(M) of orchestrating these issues to suppress voter turnout, but expressed confidence in the pro-UDF sentiment and anti-incumbency mood prevailing against both state and central governments, ruling out victories for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Kerala.
Venugopal announced plans for a comprehensive analysis of the polling process, with subsequent legal action based on the findings.