Kannur District Congress Committee president Martin George on Saturday alleged that democracy is being “slaughtered” in the district, claiming that CPM workers had even kidnapped a UDF candidate contesting from the 5th Peedika ward in Anthoor municipality in Kannur district.
Speaking to the media in Kannur, Martin George said the UDF was unable to file nomination papers in two divisions of Anthoor municipality due to threats from CPM workers.
He further alleged that CPM workers had kidnapped UDF candidate Livya, who was set to contest from the 5th Peedika ward in Anthoor municipality.
Martin George also pointed out that it was improper for the Returning Officer to reject the nomination of UDF candidate Nithyasree in Malapattam Ward 12 on grounds of alleged forged signatures.
He noted that Nithyasree had submitted her nomination papers in person and was present during scrutiny, yet her nomination was rejected. He alleged that the Kannur Collector was helping the CPM.
Meanwhile, after the scrutiny of nomination papers for the upcoming local body polls in Kerala, CPM-led LDF candidates were elected unopposed in nine wards/divisions in Kannur district.
In Malapattam grama panchayat, the UDF candidate’s nomination against LDF candidate Shigina in the 12th ward was rejected. The LDF candidates in the other two wards of the panchayat also faced no opposition.
In Kannapuram panchayat, the nominations of the opponents of LDF candidates Prema Surendran in the 10th ward and K.V. Sajina in the 3rd ward were rejected. No nominations were filed against LDF candidates in two wards of Anthoor municipality.
The Congress has alleged that the UDF was unable to file its nomination papers in two divisions of Anthoor municipality due to threats from CPM workers, and reiterated the claim that a UDF candidate in the 5th Peedika ward was kidnapped by CPM workers.