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BJP Candidate's Guruvayur Flex Listing Past MLAs Fuels Fresh Backlash

The Election Commission is assessing complaints following a Kerala High Court directive.

Overview

  • BJP nominee B. Gopalakrishnan put up a campaign flex at a busy Chavakkad junction listing Guruvayur MLAs from 1977 to 2021 with the line, "This must change — vote for Gopalakrishnan for change."
  • Opponents said the display highlights the community background of past representatives and amounts to an identity-based appeal.
  • Gopalakrishnan said it simply presents the constituency’s political history.
  • After a Returning Officer’s complaint over an earlier video in which he reportedly spoke of the lack of a 'Hindu MLA,' Guruvayur police registered a case and the Kerala High Court on March 27 ordered the Election Commission to consider related complaints within two months.
  • The Election Commission has sought a report from the District Collector as CPI(M) and the Congress press for action in the Guruvayur contest.