‘Vote chori’ in Thrissur too? Congress in Kerala claims voter list manipulation behind Suresh Gopi’s LS win

Thrissur (Kerala): The Congress party in Kerala has raised serious concerns over what it calls a “suspicious and abnormal surge” in voter registrations in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, following the BJP’s landmark victory in the seat during the 2024 general elections.

BJP candidate Suresh Gopi’s win in Thrissur marked the party’s first-ever Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, surprising political observers across the spectrum. However, Congress leaders now claim the victory may have been aided by voter roll manipulation and mass irregular enrolments ahead of the polls.

Sharp rise in voter numbers raises eyebrows

According to data cited by the Congress, Thrissur witnessed an unexpected increase of 1,46,656 voters between the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections -- a 2.35x jump compared to the previous addition of 62,318 voters in 2019. This sudden spike made Thrissur the largest constituency in Kerala with over 14.83 lakh registered voters.
 

Congress leaders argue that such an increase is inconsistent with demographic trends, noting that Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode -- districts with higher employment-driven migration -- did not show similar voter growth.

Allegations of irregular registrations

During the election season, reports had surfaced alleging large-scale voter registrations in vacant houses and apartment units, a pattern Congress compares to the modus operandi alleged in Bengaluru constituencies like Mahadevapura and Bangalore Central, which were flagged by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Karnataka assembly elections.

The party also cited a specific case involving Suresh Gopi’s residence in Thrissur, where 11 new votes were reportedly registered under the name “Bharath Heritage” -- allegedly including members of Gopi’s family, who are said to be residents of Sasthamangalam in Thiruvananthapuram.

Call for investigation

Speaking to reporters, Congress functionaries demanded a thorough investigation by the Election Commission into what they allege could be systematic manipulation of voter rolls in Thrissur.

“This is not just a statistical anomaly. The figures raise serious concerns of possible malpractice, and we urge the Election Commission to examine the legitimacy of the electoral roll expansion,” a state Congress leader said.

No response from BJP yet

As of now, Suresh Gopi and the BJP’s Kerala unit have not responded publicly to the allegations. The Election Commission has also not issued any statement on the matter.

The Congress's concerns come amid a broader national debate over electoral integrity, with opposition parties alleging that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were tilted in favour of the ruling party through administrative and procedural lapses.