Congress alleges BJP tried to buy off its candidate in Palakkad

The Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to influence its candidate in ward 50 of the Palakkad municipality, alleging that the BJP offered money to its candidate K. Ramesh to persuade him to withdraw from the contest.

V.K. Sreekandan, MP, said here on Monday that BJP’s outgoing councillor and the present candidate tried to influence Mr. Ramesh by offering him money. He said it was a violation of the election code of conduct.

Both Mr. Sreekandan and Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA, reached Mr. Ramesh’s house and spoke to him. Police recorded the statement of Mr. Ramesh and his family following a complaint. Police said they would proceed after seeking legal advice.

Nomination rejected

Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate’s nomination from ward 50 was rejected in the scrutiny, leaving the contest between the BJP and the Congress.

Mr. Sreekandan alleged that the BJP sought to secure an unopposed victory in ward 50 by pressuring the Congress candidate to withdraw, hoping to leverage that win during their campaign in other wards of the municipality.

But the BJP denied the allegation. BJP councillor Jayalakshmi K. said that she called Mr. Ramesh to wish him success in the election and not to influence him. She said she was not aware of other BJP leaders’ visit to his house.

But Mr. Ramesh has complained that Ms. Jayalakshmi reached his house along with the BJP candidate Sunil asking him to withdraw the nomination.

BJP east district president Prasanth Sivan said that the Congress raised the complaint as part of a move to cover up its internal problems. He said BJP councillors and candidates went to Mr. Ramesh’s house to canvass votes. He said the BJP leaders visited not only Mr. Ramesh’s house but his neighbouring houses as well.

Mr. Sivan said that the BJP need not influence anyone to contest ward 50, which is a bastion of the party. “Even if the UDF and the LDF join hands against the BJP in that ward, they will not get even 100 votes there,” he said.

Mr. Sivan challenged Mr. Sreekandan to produce evidence to support his claim of influencing the Congress candidate. “Even if Rahul Gandhi were to contest in ward 50, the BJP would win – let alone Mr. Sreekandan,” he said.