Kozhikode: There would be 10 lakh to 14 lakh double votes in Kerala for this Assembly election, according to a reliable source who is leading the investigation against double votes in Kerala for KPCC and who wishes to remain anonymous.

The KPCC leadership has handed over evidence of over 4,34,000 double votes to the election commission. As per the EC statistics, there are 2,74,46,039 voters in the state. The Kerala High Court has asked EC to furnish explanation on double votes over the complaint filed by Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala.

“The findings are the results of a team effort. A total of over 100 persons, including KPCC leaders and workers, have been working for months. I do not wish to take my name as the credit goes to everyone in the team,” the source said.

According to the source, as many as 80 of the total 140 constituencies have large number of double voters and in each constituency there could be 5000 to 8000 double votes.

A detailed examination by the KPCC probe team has found nearly 14 lakh double votes in 25,000 booths. Evidence of over 4,34,000 votes were handed over to EC. Details were collected comparing voters list and collecting information from voters in person. The inspection is going on. As soon as evidence is received, these will be handed over.

“For the Congress and UDF, this is a second war of independence. If we fail, it would result in the end of democracy in Kerala.” 

We believe, double votes surfaced in Kerala since 2011 Assembly election. The bogus voting in 2019 Lok Sabha election was not effective as there was a new trend in favour of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress.

Fake IDs will be distributed on the eve of election and will be collected on the voting day and destroyed.

The double votes were disclosed this time as more voters were added in Thiruvananthapuram than expected. “It is like God’s invisible hand. Though 2000 to 3000 double votes were planned, the workers got excited and added over 5000 to 8000 votes in each constituencies. This invited our attention," the source stated.  

The KPCC leadership has handed over details of 22,500 double votes in three constituencies of Thiruvananthapuram – Nemom, Vattiyoorkavu and Thiruvananthapuram central, to EC the other day. This is apart from the 4,34,000 double votes that was already given earlier.

Same people in different names in same booth
 
Multiple election ID cards were issued by using the name and address of real voters. In some ID cards, the photo looked identical ut fake name and addresses were added. A single voter’s name is added to the voters’ list of his nearest constituency too. That means a voter was allowed to cast his vote in more than one constituency with the same ID.
 
Like this, the voters’ list was released with serious irregularities.
 
After examining the complaint, the election commission also confirmed irregularities in the list.
 
Till date, a list of 4.34,000 lakh double votes was submitted before the election commission. So far, the commission did not reveal the number of double votes in the list. But they have accepted the lapses in the voters’ list.
 
The commission won’t deny the lapses in the presence of solid evidence. It is examined that any single voter cannot fabricate such an irregularity. Either the officials are involved in it or the voter influenced the officials for the fake vote. 
 
There are also chances for double vote after the voter adds his name to the list of a new constituency without removing his name from the earlier constituency. At the same time, clerical lapses may also lead to such irregularities. Deliberate move and lapses from the part of the officials also result in such irregularities in the voters’ list.
 
It is examined that 10 lakh fake votes will play a major role in deciding the results of the polls. This is sufficient to sabotage the results in the assembly polls. So far, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and Congress raised a complaint on fake votes. The double votes in the voters’ list were produced as evidence to prove their allegations.
 
Countering the allegations of Congress, CPM released the evidence to prove UDF candidates Sobha Subin, Eldhose Kunnappally, SS Lal and Chennithala’s mother hold double votes. 
 
Apart from the voters’ list, a list of double votes will be given to the presiding officer to confirm that nobody casts their votes more than once. The election commission is examining the scope of implementing steps to avoid bogus voting in the assembly polls.