State General Education Minister and LDF candidate for Nemom, V. Sivankutty, has accused the BJP of attempting to compromise the electoral process. Sivankutty alleged that the saffron party resorted to distributing cash, liquor, and drugs in an effort to influence voters and purportedly offered direct financial incentives in exchange for support.
Sivankutty alleged that the cash was transferred through GPay. "They offered up to ₹15,000 per vote," he said. He further added that there may not be any direct evidence, but those who received the money voted accordingly.
Nemom emerged as a high-stakes battleground, with the BJP pinning its hopes on state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Often cited as the party's ideological gateway to Kerala, the constituency remains a critical stronghold, notably delivering the BJP’s historic and sole Assembly victory in the state via O. Rajagopal in 2016.
Sivankutty further alleged that the BJP has roped in various organisations to influence voters. Detailing a specific incident, he claimed a vehicle arrived at the RMS facility carrying four suspicious boxes. "I have formally petitioned the City Police Commissioner, providing the vehicle’s registration number for a full investigation," the minister stated.
He said that the police later informed him that the number was fake and registered to a two-wheeler.
Earlier, similar incidents surfaced in the Palakkad constituency, where BJP candidate Sobha Surendran was embroiled in a cash-for-vote controversy.
Kerala witnessed a voter turnout of 78.24 per cent, surpassing the 2021 polling percentage.