Row over Suresh Gopi voting in TVM after enrolling as Thrissur voter
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Thiruvananthapuram: A political storm has erupted in Kerala after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi cast his vote in the Sasthamangalam division of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on December 9 during local body elections, sparking sharp criticism from the Opposition and a strong defence from the BJP.
The controversy was first raised by CPI leader and former State Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar, who questioned how Gopi, who had enrolled and voted as a resident of Thrissur in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, could now exercise his franchise in Thiruvananthapuram in the ongoing local polls.
Gopi had defeated Sunil Kumar in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat by over 70,000 votes, giving the fresh row an added political edge. Sunil Kumar demanded explanations from both the Election Commission and the Union Minister, alleging a serious breach of electoral norms and seeking clarity on Gopi’s voting status in two different locations within a short period.
Joining the attack, Thrissur District Congress Committee president Joseph Tajet accused Gopi of exposing his "true colours" and said the Sasthamangalam vote highlighted “political double standards,” contradicting the image projected during the Thrissur parliamentary campaign. Tajet demanded that Gopi publicly clarify his position, apologise to Thrissur voters, and step down, terming the episode a serious moral and political lapse.
"A voter cannot legally exercise voting rights in two places. This strikes at the core of democracy and undermines citizens' faith in the electoral system," Tajet said.
The BJP, however, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and legally unfounded. Senior party leader B. Gopalakrishnan explained that voters’ lists for Lok Sabha, Assembly, and local body elections are prepared separately under different legal frameworks and administrative procedures.
He noted that Gopi had sold his Nettissery house in Thrissur and owns a valid residence in Sasthamangalam, Thiruvananthapuram, which justifies his inclusion in the local body voters’ list there. "Does the Opposition expect him to shift into a neighbour's house because his old home was sold?" Gopalakrishnan said, urging the Opposition to provide documentary proof if they allege any wrongdoing.
Election officials confirmed that Gopi’s name appeared in the Sasthamangalam voters’ list during previous local elections and remained on the roll in the latest revision. Since he owns a residence there, his voting in Thiruvananthapuram is not legally irregular, and there is no record of him voting in any Thrissur local body election.
Officials clarified the only technical question is why his name was not included in the Thrissur local body electoral roll when he voted as a Lok Sabha elector from Thrissur, and whether procedural updates were carried out simultaneously.
With both sides locked in a war of words, the controversy has added fresh political heat to Kerala’s charged local body election environment and is expected to remain a key talking point in the coming days.
With IANS inputs