‘Go to EC or courts; don’t fool public’: BJP Kerala chief on ‘vote chori’ allegations against Suresh Gopi

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Wednesday dismissed the allegations surrounding Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi’s Lok Sabha win, urging political opponents to take legal routes instead of “spreading lies to fool and provoke the public”.

His response comes amid accusations from the Congress and CPI that Gopi, who won from Thrissur in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, had submitted a false declaration to gain voter registration in the constituency — claims that have now sparked a political row.

The Congress recently filed a police complaint demanding criminal proceedings against the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism. CPI leader V S Sunil Kumar had earlier alleged that tampering with the electoral roll paved the way for Gopi's victory.

In the tightly contested election, Gopi defeated CPI’s Kumar and Congress’s K Muraleedharan by a margin of over 74,000 votes.

Chandrasekhar questioned the timing of the allegations, stating, “These claims are being raised one-and-a-half years after Gopi won in the LS polls.”

He further said, “Any illegality in connection with the election of a candidate during polls should be raised before the Election Commission or the courts, instead of spreading lies to fool and provoke the public.”

According to the BJP leader, such issues should be pursued through formal complaints or election petitions. “They do not do that. Instead, they try to provoke the public by telling lies or try to divert people's attention by their propaganda. It is all a show,” he alleged.

Chandrasekhar also linked the developments to election-season tactics by Opposition leaders. “Such dramas are being done by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan as elections approach,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Suresh Gopi was in Thrissur on Wednesday, where he visited a BJP worker injured in a protest the previous day. He declined to comment on the allegations when questioned by reporters at the railway station.

At the hospital, the only comment he made was, “Thanks for helping so much.” It remains unclear whom the remark was directed at.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty had urged the Election Commission of India to order a re-election in Thrissur, citing reports of extensive voter list manipulation.

PTI