Kerala local body polls: From collector to Mammootty, several names missing from list

KOCHI: Vyshnavi M, a resident of Poonithura (51) division of Kochi corporation, has a voter’s ID and was eager to cast her vote in the local body polls. Though she exercised her voting rights during the election to the parliament, this time she was denied the right as her name did not surface in the voters’ list.
Vyshnavi was not alone. There were many others, including collector S Suhas and actor Mammootty, who missed their chance to vote as their names did not figure in the list.
S Jayasree of Puthukkalavattam said she went twice and checked at stalls set by various political parties, but she couldn’t find her name. “I am a resident of division 34 and had cast vote in previous polls too. When I checked with officials I was told that my name could be in the list where my parents reside. My name was removed from my parents’ ration card and voters list long ago,” said Jayasree.
Meanwhile, V4 Kochi campaign convener Nipun Cherian said they are gathering the data of citizens who were unable to cast their votes.
Paul D Panikulam, a resident of Ayyappankavu, said he has been residing in this division for the past 12 years. He had also voted in the previous local body polls. “My wife, two children and myself were denied our fundamental right. It’s a question of four votes. We want to know whether there was any calculated move to exclude our names from the list,” he said.