Thiruvananthapuram, April 6: As voting is underway in 140 constituencies in the single-phase assembly election in Kerala, incidents of attacks were reported at several places in the state on Tuesday.
In the Kattayikonam of Kazhakootam segment, four BJP workers have been attacked by CPI(M) activists in connection with alleged bogus voting.
In protest against the attack, Kazhakootam BJP candidate Sobha Surendran staged a sit-in dharna in front of a polling booth seeking action against the CPI-M workers.
At Nedumkandam in Idukki District bordering Tamil Nadu, a group of people was blocked by Congress and BJP workers alleging that they crossed the border to reach here to cast bogus votes in favor of CPI(M).
The 14-member group including women reached here in a vehicle carrying cotton and liquid to clean the indelible ink. A similar incident was also reported at Kambammettu in Idukki District.
At Anthoor in Kannur district, UDF candidate V P Abdul Rashid was attacked by CPI(M) workers when he questioned the partisan manner of the polling official who was not following steps to identify the voters by removing the mask.
UDF Candidate Dharmajan Bolgatty also alleged that he was attacked by DYFI activists when he reached Balussery to cast his vote at a polling station there.
Though the malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPAT machines was reported in several booths, the overall polling has been largely peaceful and progressing at a brisk pace across the state. (UNI)