Arya Rajendran behind removal of Vaishna’s vote? Ploy failed after court’s intervention, says Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader K Muraleedharan said Mayor Arya Rajendran has a role in removing the name of Vaishna Suresh, the UDF candidate of Muttada ward. Muraleedharan alleged that Arya Rajendran personally met the corporation officials and the Left leaders led this.

The election commission has found that there were serious lapses from the side of additional secretary in charge of elections in the corporation, hearing officer and the investigation office, in removing her name from the voters list. However, the Congress alleged that this was not done by the officials alone and that it was a conspiracy hatched by the CPM leaders.

It is alleged that the CPM tried to oust the youngest person, fielded by the UDF in Muttada ward, through a crooked way. K Muraleedharan said that everyone from additional secretary Saji Kumar to the bill collector who went to investigate acted on the directions of the CPM and that legal action will be taken against this.

Murali said the officials even violated the basic rules of the election over CPM's assurance to protect them. On the day the high court ordered a review of the vote removal, some officials from the mayor's office threatened the residents of Vaishna's house and got them signed some papers. A video of this had also emerged. The authorities have not been able to clarify why the corporation officials went to her house. They got the papers signed saying that it has to be presented to the election commission. However, the Congress alleged that the signed papers were not produced after the presence of the officials was recognized in the video.

The Congress said the officials misused their post and threatened the tenants for the Left candidate also the present councilor. However, the old governing body of the corporation has not yet responded to the incident. CPM district secretary V Joy said the other day that the CPM has no role in the removal of her vote.