suresh-gopi-reaches-thrissur-amid-voter-fraud-controversy

Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi has arrived in the city for the first time since being embroiled in a controversy surrounding alleged voter fraud and amidst protests. The actor-politician received a warm welcome from Bharatiya Janata Party activists at the railway station on Wednesday.

This marks Gopi's first visit to his constituency since two Keralite nuns were arrested in Chhattisgarh on human trafficking charges and the voter roll controversy erupted. After landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport early in the morning, Gopi travelled to Thrissur on the Vande Bharat train. He visited a hospital to see workers injured in a clash between the CPM and BJP that took place on Tuesday. He declined to answer questions from reporters, simply stating, “Thanks for helping so much,” before leaving.

A police investigation has been launched into Suresh Gopi following a complaint that he allegedly submitted a fraudulent affidavit to transfer his vote to Thrissur ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Evidence has also emerged that his brother, Subhash Gopi, holds votes in both Thrissur and Kollam.

 

Also read: Kerala woman claims nine fake votes added at her Thrissur flat

The clash on Tuesday was sparked by marches from the CPM to the BJP office and a subsequent march by the BJP to the CPM office, both related to the fake voter list controversy. The Congress student wing, KSU, had filed a police complaint on Sunday, alleging that Gopi had gone missing from his constituency. They also announced plans to file a habeas corpus plea with the High Court.

Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has defended Gopi, stating that any alleged illegalities concerning a candidate's election should be brought before the Election Commission or the courts, rather than "spreading lies to fool and provoke the public."

 

Chandrasekhar questioned the timing of the allegations, noting they were being raised a year and a half after Gopi won the Lok Sabha polls. He accused political opponents of creating a "show" through "drama" and "propaganda" as elections approach, citing Rahul Gandhi and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan as examples.