Congress’s Claim of VM Vinu’s Vote Removal Debunked; Name Absent from 2020 Voter List

KOZHIKODE: The Congress party’s allegation that the name of director VM Vinu, who was slated to contest as the Congress mayoral candidate in the Kallayi division of the Corporation elections, was removed from the voter list, is now falling apart. Congress had initially alleged that Vinu’s vote was deliberately struck off after he was announced as a candidate.

However, new information reveals that Vinu’s name was also not on the voter list for the 2020 local body elections. The Corporation ERO’s preliminary finding states that Vinu did not have a vote in 2020. His name is not found in any exclusion lists after 2020, nor has anyone filed a complaint to remove his vote. The Corporation is now conducting a detailed examination of the 2020 voter list, which includes approximately 4.5 lakh votes.

Yesterday, Vinu had claimed that he voted in Malaparamba in the 2020 local elections. However, the latest information indicates that Vinu was not included in the 2020 voter list for the Malaparamba division either.

Meanwhile, an emergency meeting was held at the Kozhikode DCC office to discuss further actions regarding Vinu’s absence from the voter list. Vinu, Bindu Thammanakandy (another candidate whose name was missing from the voter list), and KPCC General Secretary K. Jayant participated in the meeting. Following the meeting, DCC President K. Praveen Kumar and Vinu dismissed the claim that Vinu’s name was not on the 2020 local election voter list.

K. Praveen Kumar questioned the whereabouts of the 2020 voter list if Vinu’s name was not on it, stating that it wasn’t even visible on the Election Commission’s website. He expressed suspicion of foul play, suggesting a conspiracy to prevent access to the previous voter list for verification. Praveen Kumar asserted that Vinu had indeed voted in Malaparamba in 2020 and stated that they are trusting the assurance given by the Collector.

**VM Vinu Alleges Sabotage**

VM Vinu reiterated his claim that he voted in Malaparamba in 2020 and expressed bewilderment over how his name was removed now. He repeated his allegation that his name was deliberately removed after he decided to contest for the Corporation. Vinu questioned whether there would come a day when it would be said that he never even existed on this earth, emphasizing the planned nature of the removal. He accused the Corporation of irregularities in the voter list, stating that the Kozhikode Corporation controls the list and that sabotage has occurred. Vinu concluded by expressing his faith in the law.