Cash for vote ‘regular practice’: BJP leader accuses Shobha Surendran

Alappuzha: Serious allegations have emerged against Shobha Surendran, with former BJP Alappuzha North district vice president Bindu Vinayakumar claiming that distributing money for votes is a “regular practice” of the leader. She alleged that cash was distributed during the Lok Sabha elections in Alappuzha and said the matter is widely known locally.

Bindu questioned why the party’s state leadership has not initiated an inquiry into her complaint that Shobha personally threatened her. She has already filed a police complaint, submitting a WhatsApp call recording as evidence. Following this, the BJP suspended Bindu from primary membership, citing repeated disciplinary violations.

The allegations escalate further, with Bindu accusing Shobha of having extremist links and demanding a comprehensive investigation into her political activities and associations. She also called for a probe into the fate of a photographer named Justin, who was reportedly associated with Shobha, claiming that a proper investigation could reveal more details about her personal and political dealings.

Bindu alleged that the threat call came after Shobha accused her of being behind a woman involved in a separate cash distribution controversy in Palakkad. According to Bindu, the call included explicit threats of violence.

She further claimed that internal conflicts within the BJP’s Alappuzha unit, involving factions aligned with Shobha, had earlier required intervention by state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Bindu has submitted complaints against Shobha to both the state and national BJP leadership.

The Election Commission of India has recorded Shobha Surendran’s statement regarding allegations of cash distribution to influence voters in Palakkad. The complaint states that money was allegedly distributed on April 8 in Kannadi of Palakkad constituency.