Residents Deny, Rolls Confirm: The Mystery of Thrissur’s Phantom Voters

Thiruvananthapuram: Thrissur’s political climate has turned turbulent following a cascade of fresh allegations of large-scale voter list manipulation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The emerging evidence points to a pattern of fraudulent registrations, duplicate voting, and institutional inaction, with BJP leaders, workers, and even close relatives of Union Minister and sitting MP Suresh Gopi coming under scrutiny.

The controversy intensified the yesterday, coinciding with Suresh Gopi’s visit to the city. Arriving at 9:30 am. to a grand reception by BJP workers under tight security, Gopi declined to address reporters’ questions on the allegations, responding only with a brief “Thanks for all your help.” His silence has drawn criticism from opposition parties, who argue that the charges involve individuals closely connected to him and merit an explanation.

The dispute erupted publicly on Tuesday evening when CPI M activists marched to Gopi’s camp office to protest alleged irregularities in the voters’ roll. The demonstration escalated into a confrontation after BJP workers staged a counter- march, leaving five BJP workers injured. CPI M leaders have since demanded a comprehensive probe. CPI State Council member K K Valsaraj warned that the allegations “undermine the integrity of the democratic process,” while CPI M general secretary M A Baby accused the BJP of adding 3,000 ineligible votes in Thrissur. State Education Minister V Sivankutty has called for a repoll in the constituency.

Specific cases have strengthened these demands. Electoral records show that Suresh Gopi’s brother, Subhash Gopi, and his wife, Rani, each held two voter ID cards, one in Kollam and one in Thrissur, enabling them to vote in both places. Similarly, RSS leader Shaji Varavoor and his wife, K M Deepti, were found registered in Thrissur and Alathur. Under the Representation of the People Act and the Indian Penal Code, such duplicate registrations are criminal offences carrying up to seven years imprisonment and fines.

Fresh findings from Nattika Avinissery’s 69th booth reveal that BJP leader and booth agent C V Anilkumar was listed as the ‘guardian’ for 17 voters, all added shortly before polling. Five of these were women aged between 20 and 61. The address used for these registrations was Anilkumar’s ancestral home, where only his mother lives. The Booth Level Officer (BLO) in charge, reportedly a BJP supporter, is alleged to have facilitated the additions. In the same booth, 175 new voters were recorded, 174 of them without house numbers. In neighbouring booth 68, BJP worker brothers Kiran and Deepak held five votes between them, each with different voter IDs, ages, and photographs but all linked to the same address and father’s name.

Another flashpoint is Poovangunnam Harisree School’s 30th booth, where 53 fake votes were allegedly added ahead of polling. This booth covers the Poovangunnam Capital Village Apartments, where nine fake votes were registered under the address of Union Minister Suresh Gopi’s driver. BLO checks revealed that several addresses in the voters’ roll were not occupied by the individuals listed. The BLO even submitted a formal request to the Election Commission to remove these bogus entries, but the request was ignored. The LDF also filed a complaint with the Deputy Election Officer, which produced no result.

One of the most striking testimonies comes from Prasanna Ashokan, a resident of Flat No. 4C in the Capital Village Apartments. She confirmed that she is the only genuine voter at her address, yet the Booth 30 voters’ roll lists 10 voters there, nine allegedly added before the election. The names include M S Manish, Mukhammiyamma, K Salja, Monisha, S Santosh Kumar, P Sajith Babu, S Ajayakumar, Sugesh, Sudheer, and Haridasan.

“I don’t know any of the nine people added to the voters’ list under my address,” Prasanna said. “During the election, local political workers informed me about the voter fraud. That was when I first became aware of it. I signed a petition to the Election Commission to have the entries removed, but no action was taken.”

CPI M state secretary M V Govindan directly blamed the BJP, stating, “The BJP bears responsibility for the large-scale addition of fake votes in Thrissur to manipulate the Thaliparamba election. They must answer for it. RSS–BJP leaders and relatives of Union Minister Suresh Gopi were among those involved. Suresh Gopi has not responded to these allegations. The Election Commission must examine the matter and there must be a comprehensive investigation.” With mounting testimonies, documented irregularities, and the Election Commission yet to act, the Thrissur voter list scandal has moved beyond mere accusations. It now raises critical questions about legal accountability, electoral integrity, and whether democratic safeguards are being actively undermined.