Kerala bypoll: LDF lodges complaint against Vayalar Ravi

The CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala today lodged a complaint against Union minister for overseas affairs Vayalar Ravi, for allegedly violating the election code of conduct in force during his visit here ahead of the bye-poll for the Kannur assembly seat on November 7.

In his complaint to the election commission, the LDF campaign committee convener and CPI(M) MLA M Prakasan alleged that Ravi while attending a college function in the district yesterday had promised a sum of Rs5 lakh for renovation of playground of the institution.

Prakasan said ministers in the state or at the Centre making promises at official functions amounted to breach of the model code of conduct when the elections process was set in motion.

He also alleged that remarks by Ravi against district collector KV Balakrishnan accusing him of failure to take action on complaints of manipulations in the electoral rolls were also in breach of the election code.

Ever since the election was declared, the Congress-led UDF and LDF had been induluging in wranglings over electoral rolls. UDF leaders had alleged that a large number of "new voters" had been enrolled in the list at the behest of the CPI-M leaders.

The by-election was necessitated by resignation of the assembly membership by K Sudhakaran of the Congress on his election to the Lok Sabha.

A keen battle is on the cards in the segment between A P Abdullakutty of Congress, who joined the party after his expulsion from the CPI(M), and former MLA MV Jayaran of the Marxist party.