Local body polls | V.D. Satheesan slams rejection of nominations filed by UDF candidates

Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan has alleged that a group of election officials acted as a unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to illegally exclude candidates of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) during the scrutiny of nomination papers on Saturday.

Mr. Satheesan’s allegation has come in the wake of the rejection of the nominations of UDF candidates in the run-up to the 2025 local body elections in Kerala.

The role of election officials, he alleged, was quite evident in Malappatam, Kannapuram and Andhoor in Kannur district. There have also been incidents in Ernakulam, Kasaragod and Palakkad districts where attempts were made to dissuade UDF candidates, he said.

The CPI(M) is celebrating these “victories” even before local body elections by slaughtering democracy, Mr. Satheesan said. He accused the CPI(M) of threatening people who have forward to be the UDF candidates.

In Alangad block in Ernakulam, the nomination of a UDF candidate was rejected on the grounds that she was a temporary employee in the Khadi Board. However, four Khadi Board temporary employees who are CPI(M) candidates were given the go-ahead in Kannur district, the Opposition Leader alleged.

Mr. Satheesan said that the UDF would legally challenge the decisions of the election officials.