BJP hits back at CPM over vote-buying allegations

T'puram: BJP city district president Karamana Jayan on Monday lashed out at general education minister V Sivankutty and Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim, accusing them of insulting voters in Thiruvananthapuram by repeatedly alleging that votes were influenced through the distribution of money and liquor.Addressing a news conference, Jayan said the CPM leaders' claims that the BJP secured votes in the city by distributing cash and alcohol were "baseless" and reflective of a defensive strategy ahead of an anticipated electoral defeat. He alleged such statements amounted to disrespecting the electorate, particularly in constituencies that have historically supported the leaders making these accusations. Jayan specifically referred to allegations that BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar was using money power to secure victory in Nemom constituency. "A senior leader like Sivankutty is effectively branding the very voters who elected him as people who sell their votes for money and liquor. This is an insult to public," he said. Rejecting the allegations outright, Jayan asserted that the BJP did not need to resort to such practices, claiming the party enjoys a strong organizational base in the city. He noted that out of 864 booths in Thiruvananthapuram, BJP has an active presence in 856, underscoring its grassroots strength. Highlighting the party's electoral track record, he recalled that Kummanam Rajasekharan secured second place in the erstwhile East constituency in 1987, while O Rajagopal won a landmark victory in 2014. In Nemom, he added, BJP councillors currently represent 17 out of 22 wards. Jayan expressed confidence that Chandrasekhar would win Nemom with a large majority and claimed that CPM's allegations were an attempt to pre-emptively justify defeat. He further predicted that BJP would secure decisive victories in all four assembly constituencies in Thiruvananthapuram.
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