Thrissur (Kerala), April 5 Allegations of BJP distributing kits triggered a controversy in this district on Sunday, with clashes erupting between activists of the saffron party and the UDF and LDF in Manaloor constituency ahead of the April 9 Assembly polls.
Activists of the two fronts surrounded a warehouse in Vadanappally in Manaloor, claiming that kits were being made and distributed from there, and prevented a local BJP leader and actor Devan, who were present inside, from leaving.
UDF candidate T N Prathapan, who reached the warehouse, claimed that over 4,000 kits were ready for distribution and that materials for making 10,000 kits were stored there.
He demanded that the BJP leaders inside the warehouse be arrested, stating that the UDF activists would not leave the area until that happened.
His other demands included seizing the warehouse and the vehicles there, which he claimed were being used to transport the kits.
Similar allegations and demands were made by LDF activists present at the site.
They also clashed with BJP activists who arrived at the warehouse after learning that their leaders were unable to leave.
Police, who arrived after learning about the alleged kit preparation, were unable to convince the UDF and LDF activists to leave the area. Central forces were also deployed to prevent further clashes between the two sides.
Police told reporters that Election Commission (EC) officials were inside the warehouse, examining the situation.
As the UDF and LDF activists shouted slogans against the saffron party, Devan and the local BJP leader came out onto the balcony of the establishment and made mocking gestures at them.
The owner of the warehouse was taken into custody and removed from the establishment, according to the police.
Later, Devan told reporters that he was in the area for a family meeting and that, as it was running late, one of his colleagues suggested that he wait at a friend's place.
"While we were having tea at my colleague's friend's place, Prathapan and his party workers arrived and created a commotion, accusing me of coming here to collect kits," he said.
"But these people arrived here within 10 minutes of me arriving at this house. So, it shows that it was all pre-planned to trap me. They were probably following me," he claimed.
He also accused Prathapan and the UDF and LDF activists of "wasting his time" and said they would have to answer for that.
During the day, at a separate event, when Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi was informed about this by reporters, he said that no case has been lodged by police as "there is no truth to the allegations".
Earlier in the day, the EC said that it had registered a case and launched an investigation into the illegal distribution of household kits in parts of Thrissur city on April 4.
The case was registered after an Election Flying Squad intercepted the unauthorized distribution of household kits near Olari Parthasarathy Temple and Karthika Super Market here, an EC statement said.
The incident occurred with just days remaining for the Assembly polls in Kerala on April 9.
UDF and LDF candidates from Thrissur, Rajan Pallan and Alankode Leelakrishnan, accused the BJP of being behind the kit distribution.
Pallan told a TV channel here that the saffron party was allegedly distributing food kits and coupons for availing liquor from bars to sway voters and demanded a comprehensive probe into the matter.
Leelakrishnan termed the incident as "unfortunate" and said that his party CPI and the LDF will take the necessary steps, including legal measures.
"Democracy being snatched away by money power is not right. Any such attempt has to be dealt with by the Election Commission," he told a TV channel.
Meanwhile, BJP candidate Padmaja Venugopal denied any knowledge regarding the incident.
The enforcement team, operating under the supervision of Executive Magistrate Dr Bindu T N, discovered that 26 kits, each valued at approximately Rs 900 and containing various miscellaneous household items, were being distributed.
"Investigations conducted at the scene indicated that the distribution was carried out under the instructions of an individual identified as Radhakrishnan, and revealed that an additional 75 kits had already been distributed prior to the arrival of the authorities," the EC said.
The poll panel said that the alleged acts constitute offenses under sections 170(1)(i)(bribery in elections) and 173 (punishment for bribery) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 123(A)(1)(corrupt practices) of the Representation of the People Act.
It also said that due to the non-cognizable nature of the offenses, it obtained the necessary prior permission from the jurisdictional Magistrate to proceed with formal legal action.