Thrissur (Kerala), April 9 A young mother in this central district claimed on Thursday that she was being denied the right to vote by the presiding officer of a polling booth at Kurkancheri due to a serious injury on her left index finger, which was bandaged.
The woman, Akshaya, told reporters outside the polling booth that she arrived to vote at 1 pm with her child and has been waiting since then to exercise her right, which was allegedly being denied by the presiding officer, who is also a woman.
"The presiding officer is insisting that I remove the bandage. But I have 15 stitches on my finger after it got injured four days ago when it got caught in the mixer-grinder jar, and it is not possible to remove the bandage. I showed her the medical certificates as well, but she is not satisfied," Akshaya said.
"I have been waiting here since 1 pm without food. I will not leave without voting," she added.
CPI leader V S Sunil Kumar contended that the presiding officer was taking an "arrogant stand" by refusing to allow Akshaya to vote, despite other presiding officers asking her to permit it.
Even the Returning Officer (RO) instructed her to allow the young woman to vote, but the presiding officer remained adamant that the direction be given to her in writing, Kumar claimed before reporters.
"She (the presiding officer) is not willing to speak to the District Collector or listen to the RO," he added.
Polling for 140 Assembly seats in Kerala commenced at 7 am and has concluded.