Kerala’s chief election commissioner orders police investigation into G. Sudhakaran, demanding tampering with postal votes in 1989

Senior CPI (M) Leader G. Sudhakaran | Photo source: Thulasi Kakkat

Kerala Chief Election Commissioner Rathan U. Kelkar, ordered a criminal investigation into the senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday (May 15, 2025) [CPI(M)] Leader and former minister G. Sudhakaran’s statement that the head of the office of the service organization supporting his party tampered with the postal voting to benefit the left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate K. Devadas, who competed in the 1989 Constitutional Competition in Alappuzha Lok Sabha.

Mr Kylkar said the Election Commission of India (ECI) took a serious view of media reports on Mr Sudhakaran’s controversial statement in Alappuzha.

Mr. Sudhakaran was then the secretary of the Election Commission of CPI(M). He said the party used the help of its service organization members to collect postal ballots for electoral duties assigned to government staff. Mr Sudhakaran claimed that Pro-CPI (M) service staff ripped up the postal vote and changed 15% of the votes that government officials voted against the candidates. He also dared to register the case against him by ECI.

The CEC directs the police to immediately register cases under Articles 136 and 128 of the Representatives of the People’s Law and relevant provisions of Bharathiya Nyaya Samhita. He also sought the report of the district election official Alappuzha.

The opposition also requested an investigation based on Mr. Sudhakaran’s claim.