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The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
K.V. Devadas refutes G. Sudhakaran's remark on postal ballot-tampering during 1989 elections
Amid the controversy over former Minister and senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader G. Sudhakaran's statement that postal ballots were tampered with in favour of CPI(M) candidate K.V. Devadas in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections in Alappuzha, Mr. Devadas has denied the allegation, stating that no such tampering took place. Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday, Mr. Devadas said he had never come across any such incident either during the 1989 elections or at any time thereafter. 'I completely disagree with Sudhakaran's remark about postal ballot-tampering. He said postal ballot covers were torn and then tampered with. In the past 36 years, I have never heard anyone say that such a thing happened. No such incident ever took place,' Mr. Devadas said. Mr. Sudhakaran made the remarks on May 14. 'In 1989, when Devadas contested as the CPI(M) candidate, postal ballots belonging to members of service organisations were collected and brought to the CPI(M) district committee office. I was the election committee secretary at the time. Around 15% of the voters had cast their ballots for the opposing candidate. We verified those ballots and altered them,' Mr. Sudhakaran said, adding, 'Do not think that if you seal the postal ballot and hand it over, no one will know your decision.' He also said even if the Election Commission was to initiate a case over the matter, it would not be a problem. Mr. Devadas said tampering with ballot papers goes against the CPI(M)'s policies and principles. 'It is undemocratic. Sudhakaran also said several members of the NGO Union didn't vote for me. That, too, is incorrect. I contested the election while serving as the general secretary of the Kerala Government Teachers Association and also holding responsibilities in other organisations. I believe everyone voted for me. Statements like the one made by Sudhakaran will only serve to alienate people who are sympathetic to the party,' he said, who is set to celebrate his 90th birthday on May 25. The veteran communist, however, said that Mr. Sudhakaran had worked sincerely during the 1989 election. 'I do not believe he would ever instigate or himself engage in any unlawful act. I am not sure what context he made such a statement. He has already retracted what he said, and that is a good thing,' Mr. Devadas added. In the 1989 polls, Vakkom Purushothaman of the Congress party defeated Devadas by a margin of over 25,000 votes. Mr. Devadas contested the polls after taking voluntary retirement from the teaching profession. Though Mr. Sudhakaran later retracted his statement noting that he had spoken 'with a bit of imagination' and had 'never engaged in or facilitated bogus voting or postal ballots tampering', the Alappuzha South police have registered a case against him under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) calls for an all-party meeting headed by PM, special session of Parliament
The Communist Party of India(Marxist) [CPI(M)], which attended the all-party meeting called by the Centre on Thursday in the wake of 'Operation Sindoor', regretted the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second consecutive time in the key all-party meeting. John Brittas, leader of the Party in the Rajya Sabha, who attended the meeting on behalf of the CPI(M), urged the government to call an all-party meeting with the participation of the Prime Minister and also a special session of Parliament. In the context of the government reporting that the 'intended objectives of the Operation are achieved', Mr. Brittas pointed out that given the past experience, it is doubtful, if such military action will be able to target and eliminate terrorist groups. He emphasised that the government should continue pursuing diplomatic actions and build international pressure to bring the terrorists to book. It should also see that the situation does not escalate. He urged the government to ensure the protection of the people in the border areas and also to provide all required assistance to those who are affected by the situation, He asked the government to place all the facts before the people and counter the spread of all kinds of misinformation. Mr. Brittas also stated that it is the duty of the government to curb the spread of hate, while underlining that terror has no religion. War against terrorism cannot be conducted without fighting the spread of hate. He also lauded the people of Pahalgam and Kashmir for showing the path to the entire country by unitedly condemning terrorism with compassion, even after suffering from all its ill effects. He demanded that the government lead an all-party delegation to Kashmir at an appropriate time to stand by the people of Kashmir.
