Election authorities to check suspected entry of minors’ names on voters’ list in Kozhikode

An investigation is under way into the alleged inclusion of the names of six minor students from Kozhikode district in Kerala on the voters’ list after their Aadhaar card details were reportedly altered. Their details have been handed over to the district election authorities and the police for verification and possible legal action.

The complaint was filed by a few Left Democratic Front (LDF) workers, who alleged that the United Democratic Front (UDF) campaigners were behind the suspected malpractice in Kattippara panchayat.

According to them, the students were all born after January 1, 2007, and are therefore ineligible to vote during the panchayat election. They claimed that the year of birth on the Aadhaar cards were tampered with and changed to 2006 to facilitate the illegal enrolment.

As evidence

Copies of the Aadhaar cards of two students involved in the controversy were submitted to the election authorities as evidence. The complainants said the manipulation aimed to increase the number of voters in ward number six of the grama panchayat. The issue reportedly came to light when the LDF workers reviewed the final voters’ list last week to plan the door-to-door campaigns.

“There is no clarity yet on whether the students were actually aware of the malpractice. Those responsible for such serious violations should be identified by the election authorities and punished,” said a former ward member from the panchayat. He also sought a thorough review of the final voters’ list in other wards and nearby panchayats for exposing similar issues.

However, the local UDF leaders denied any involvement of their workers in the incident. They said they were also waiting for the election authorities’ report on the allegation.

According to officials, securing illegal entry into the voters’ list is a serious crime and punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, with imprisonment of up to one year, a fine or both. Those who facilitated such enrolments may also face action, they said.