Vadakara: With just hours remaining for voting to commence in the state, the Vadakara constituency finds itself embroiled in a heated dispute over cyberbullying between the LDF and UDF. What began as a war of words has escalated into a legal confrontation, with both parties exchanging legal notices and filing complaints in a bid to gain the upper hand.

LDF has lodged over 20 complaints thus far, resulting in the registration of eight cases.On the other hand, UDF has launched its own list of complaints regarding cyber attacks. Most recently, UDF candidate Shafi Parampil lodged a formal complaint with the Director-General of Police (DGP) against LDF candidate K K Shailaja and CPM State Secretary M V Govindan, alleging false propaganda and conspiracy.

The Democratic Women's Association, too, has filed a complaint with the Women's Commission against a YouTuber for cyber abuse directed at K K Shailaja. Meanwhile, LDF has also taken a stand against retired judge B Kemal Pasha for making defamatory remarks.

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Cyber attack (Representational Image) | Mathrubhumi

However, neither candidate has responded to the legal notices. The issue of cyber abuse erupted in Vadakara just 10 days before the election, with K K Shailaja alleging the spread of morphed pictures and fake videos with the knowledge of the oppositional candidate. With LDF seizing upon this issue, UDF found itself on the defensive. However, a clarification from Shailaja regarding the nature of the alleged materials led to a shift in dynamics, with the UDF leveraging the situation to its advantage.

Questions surrounding why Shafi was involved have further complicated matters, with M V Govindan suggesting the existence of an obscene video, dealing a blow to the LDF's stance. Despite attempts to reinforce their position through legal channels, internal dissatisfaction within the CPM has clouded the once-favorable scenario.

As the cyber issue becomes a focal point of the UDF's campaign, the LDF finds itself compelled to backtrack at the eleventh hour. Both camps are keenly observing how this issue will resonate with voters come election day, as the battle for Vadakara intensifies in the realm of cyber warfare.