Latest news with #VSSunilKumar
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Kerala Woman Discovers Nine Fraudulent Voter Registrations At Her Thrissur Address
A resident of Thrissur district in Kerala has lodged a formal complaint after discovering that nine unauthorized voter registrations were fraudulently added to her residential address without her knowledge or consent. The incident has sparked broader allegations of electoral irregularities in the constituency that became the Bharatiya Janata Party's only Lok Sabha victory in Kerala during the 2024 elections. Prasanna, who owns flat 4C in Capital Village Apartments located in Poonkunnam, revealed that she is the sole registered voter from her household in Thrissur constituency. Her family comprises four adults and two children, with the remaining adult family members maintaining their voter registration in their ancestral village of Poochinipadam. The unauthorized additions only came to her attention when an individual approached her seeking verification of the registered names. The apartment owner expressed her dismay over the situation, stating that her family had been residing in the property for four years and had no knowledge of any of the individuals whose names were fraudulently registered at her address. She emphasized that such unauthorized additions violated their consent and privacy rights, prompting her to sign a formal complaint that was subsequently submitted to the district collector. Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers have alleged that similar electoral irregularities have occurred across multiple residential complexes in the Poonkunnam area, including Water Lily and Capital Village apartments. According to their claims, vacant residential units were systematically exploited as fictitious addresses to facilitate the transfer of voter registrations from other districts throughout Kerala. The party representatives highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the legitimate property owners had no knowledge of the individuals whose names were fraudulently registered at their addresses. This pattern suggests a coordinated effort to manipulate voter rolls rather than isolated incidents of administrative error. These revelations have provided additional credibility to allegations made by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and former Thrissur candidate VS Sunil Kumar, who has accused the Election Commission of India of permitting widespread irregularities during the voter registration process. Kumar claimed that in a single polling booth, 280 registration applications arrived simultaneously, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the submissions. The former candidate further alleged that the names of individuals from other constituencies as well as migrant workers were improperly added to Thrissur voter rolls. He attributed these irregularities to the Election Commission's decision to streamline the registration process by accepting postal cards as sufficient address verification, which he argued created loopholes for manipulation. Thrissur constituency holds particular political significance as it became the only Lok Sabha seat in Kerala captured by the BJP in 2024. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi secured victory for the party, defeating both Sunil Kumar representing the Left Democratic Front and K Muraleedharan from the United Democratic Front in a closely contested election. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan has demanded a comprehensive investigation into these allegations, accusing the BJP of employing improper methods to inflate voter numbers and compromise the integrity of free and fair elections. He commended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for bringing attention to alleged electoral manipulation tactics and urged citizens to resist what he characterized as authoritarian and divisive political practices. The incident has raised broader questions about the security and verification processes governing voter registration in India. The ease with which unauthorized names were allegedly added to electoral rolls without property owner knowledge suggests potential systemic vulnerabilities in the current registration system. Electoral integrity advocates argue that such incidents undermine public confidence in democratic processes and highlight the need for more robust verification mechanisms. The allegations come at a time when concerns about electoral manipulation and voter roll irregularities have become increasingly prominent in Indian political discourse. The district administration has yet to announce specific measures in response to the complaint, though the formal submission to the collector suggests that an investigation may be initiated. The outcome of any inquiry could have implications for understanding the scope of alleged irregularities and determining appropriate remedial actions. The controversy surrounding Thrissur's voter rolls reflects broader tensions in Kerala politics, where the BJP's breakthrough victory challenged the traditional two-party dominance of the Left Democratic Front and United Democratic Front. The allegations of electoral manipulation add another layer to the political significance of the constituency's changing dynamics.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Mega electronics mfg cluster mooted in Aranmula wetlands
Thiruvananthapuram: In a policy U-turn, the state govt is weighing a proposal by a private company linked to the original promoters of the controversial Aranmula airport to develop a Rs 600 crore electronics manufacturing cluster on the same 335.25 acres where the shelved project was once planned. Govt records accessed by TOI reveal that over 90% of this land is officially classified as paddy field or wetland. The proposal is being considered by the revenue and agriculture departments, and the move contradicts the LDF govt's 2016 position. The Pinarayi Vijayan-led cabinet had, in Nov 2016, in one of its first major decisions after coming to power, scrapped all clearances to the Aranmula airport project, honouring its election promise. The govt revoked every order passed by the previous UDF regime—its in-principle approval, equity participation and the controversial grant of industrial status to the largely agrarian land. Former agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar even staged a symbolic paddy sowing at the site and declared that the land would be returned to its original purpose. Now, a company named Taking Off to the Future Pvt Ltd (TOFL)—described in govt documents as a direct reincarnation of the Aranmula airport firm—is back with the cluster proposal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Show Your Patriotism: American Flag Bald Eagle Garland Graddi Read More Undo It has sought exemption under Section 81(3) of the Kerala Land Reforms Act to retain excess land that spans four villages—Aranmula, Kidangannoor, Mezhuveli and Mallapuzhassery in Pathanamthitta's Kozhencherry taluk. "The proposal was forwarded to us from the IT department. As part of the due process, the agriculture department was asked to give its opinion regarding the paddy land, and its response has not been favourable. The revenue department, which handles land conversion, also considers such inputs before taking a final view. Both departments have conveyed their respective opinions, and the matter is under consideration," revenue minister K Rajan said. Documents confirm that the site earmarked for the cluster overlaps with the land once acquired for the airport. Of the total 335.25 acres, 156.45 acres are classified as paddy land and 13.77 acres as wetlands, triggering concerns under the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008. The district collector's report, submitted as part of the exemption application, bluntly notes: "The land includes large extents of paddy fields and wetlands. Many parcels are still being used for paddy cultivation, as verified by agricultural and village offices." According to a revenue department note, quoting the district collector's report, the property remains under scrutiny as part of an excess land case, and land tax is not being accepted. The note, also citing a joint field inspection, confirms that the site includes land reclaimed before 2007, areas listed in the paddy land data bank and active paddy plots. Inspectors also found that adjacent areas, like the Kidangannur puncha fields, are under cultivation. The agricultural officer also warns that any future construction must be planned carefully to avoid flooding and ecological degradation. Importantly, the district collector has not made a clear recommendation on whether the land ceiling exemption should be granted. TOFL claims that the project will attract Rs 4,000 crore in additional investments and create over one lakh jobs. Senior officials, however, admit that the firm's direct lineage to the abandoned airport project has revived old concerns about land use violations, regulatory circumvention and repackaging of a rejected venture. The land was originally transferred to KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd, the company behind the defunct airport, by the Kozhencherry Charitable Education Society. The public accounts committee of the assembly had earlier revealed irregularities in the airport project's land dealings and clearances.
