An election official in Kerala’s Kasaragod constituency has been suspended for allegedly supporting ‘double voting’ practices. The suspension of M. Ravi, a booth level officer (BLO) at Cheemeni, was initiated by District Collector K. Inbasekar on April 23 following a complaint implicating him in discrepancies in the voters’ list.
The complaint, backed by audio evidence, claimed that Mr. Ravi dismissed concerns about double voting and suggested that ‘the Left should receive two votes.’ The investigation was prompted by a complaint lodged with the Collector’s office by M.V. Shilparaj, a youth recognized for his social work, who raised an alarm after discovering double votes for a voter on the list.
Upon scrutiny, two voter ID numbers for the same person were found on the voters’ list, indicating potential double votes. The complaint alleged that Mr. Ravi was ‘complicit in fraudulent voting practices.’ The audio clip reportedly caught Mr. Ravi dismissing concerns about double voting, stating it was ‘inconsequential.’
Mr. Shilparaj promptly reported the matter to the Collector, the taluk office, and the village office, leading to the investigation. The suspension of Mr. Ravi serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that all citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in free and fair elections.
