Kasaragod Nomination Clash: Unnithan and Balakrishnan Spar in Tense Altercation

At the Kasaragod Collectorate, political drama unfolded as Congress candidate Rajmohan Unnithan protested after LDF candidate M V Balakrishnan filed his nomination papers first. Unnithan, who arrived earlier, staged a sit-in protest for an hour, alleging that the Returning Officer (Collector) unfairly granted Balakrishnan priority. The incident occurred on April 3rd, as both candidates sought to submit their nomination papers for the upcoming election.

Kasaragod Nomination Drama: Unnithan and Balakrishnan Engage in Tense Altercation

Kasaragod, India (April 4, 2023) - A highly charged scene unfolded at the Kasaragod Collectorate on Wednesday as Congress MP and United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Rajmohan Unnithan and Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate M V Balakrishnan arrived to submit their nomination papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The drama began at 10:00 am when Unnithan arrived at the Collector's office, which was the designated venue for submitting nomination papers. However, Unnithan claimed that he was dismayed to learn that Balakrishnan had already been issued the first token, despite Unnithan's arrival prior to the LDF candidate.

Infuriated by this perceived injustice, Unnithan staged a sit-in protest in front of the office of Returning Officer K Inbasekar for an hour, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The protest escalated as Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf and Kasaragod MLA N A Nellikkunnu joined Unnithan in solidarity.

Unnithan accused the Returning Officer of biased conduct, favoring the ruling party's candidate. He questioned the timing of Balakrishnan's proposer, Indian National League (INL) leader Aziz Kadappuram, who Unnithan claimed had arrived at the helpdesk at 7:06 am, well before the Collector's office officially opened at 10:00 am.

Unnithan's allegations cast a shadow over the nomination process, raising concerns about potential electoral malpractices. He asserted that Balakrishnan had procured the first token through illicit means, a violation of the code of conduct governing the elections.

In a bid to quell the controversy, Returning Officer Inbasekar released the timings of the LDF candidate's proposer's arrival and Unnithan's arrival, as captured by CCTV footage. Inbasekar maintained that Balakrishnan was given the first token due to his proposer's early arrival, while Unnithan received the second token because he arrived at 8:55 am.

Unnithan vehemently rejected Inbasekar's explanation, claiming that the Returning Officer was selectively relying on CCTV footage to justify his actions. He further alleged that Balakrishnan had "bought the token in black," an illicit transaction that violated the code of conduct.

The intense confrontation between Unnithan and Balakrishnan highlights the heightened political tensions surrounding the upcoming elections in Kasaragod. The incident has raised concerns about the potential for further electoral irregularities and the need for vigilance to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.

As the nomination process concludes, the candidates will now focus their efforts on campaigning for votes as they seek to secure electoral victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.