Latest news with #VDSatheesan
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Draft voter list prepared as per CPM's orders: Satheesan
Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader V D Satheesan alleged that the draft voters' list for local body elections published by state election commission (SEC) was riddled with widespread irregularities. "The list has been prepared as per the directive of local CPM leaders to rig the ensuing elections," he alleged. "Many people who voted last time are missing from the list. Names of people who passed away three or four years ago are still included. Some voters' names have been moved from their actual wards to other places. Votes of family members residing in the same house have been registered in different wards," Satheesan said. "Some voters have been registered in three different wards. There are multiple votes under a single ID card number. Even after completing ward delimitation and publishing voters' list, the ward sketch hasn't been provided. Yet they are asking to add votes within 15 days, which is an unprecedented requirement. How can names be added to the voters' list without knowing the ward boundaries?" he asked. "According to Section 24 of Panchayati Raj Act, voters' list should not be revised between the last date for submitting nominations and election day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Cash Roadster Undo This means there should be no hindrance in adding names to the voters' list until the last date for submitting election nominations. Then why is it restricted to 15 days?" he asked. "Transferring a vote from one place to another is also a complicated process. When a person's name is newly added to one place, the vote must be removed from the existing location. Both EROs at the two locations need to communicate on this and 15 days are insufficient for all these. Thus, the time to correct errors in the voter list should be extended to at least 30 days," said Satheesan. "How can a free and fair election be conducted using a voter list with such errors? Attempts are being made to prevent rectification of irregularities. SEC is acting according to CPM leadership's wishes," he alleged. "The number of polling booths has also been reduced. SEC is attempting to sabotage the election by ensuring that polling doesn't conclude even by 10pm. If SEC is not ready to reconsider, UDF will address it legally," said Satheesan. "Ward delimitation was conducted in violation of even the high court's directive, favouring CPM's convenience. SEC also supported all these and took decisions without even examining complaints," he alleged.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
UDF alleges errors in voters' list for local body polls; warns legal action
Last Updated: Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 26 (PTI) Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan on Saturday criticised the recently published voters' list for the upcoming local body polls, alleging widespread irregularities, and warned that the UDF would take 'legal action" if the deadline to rectify the errors is not extended. The Congress-led UDF questioned how a free and fair election could be conducted using a voters' list that, according to them, 'is riddled with errors". Speaking to reporters, Satheesan said the UDF would initiate legal proceedings if the time to make corrections in the list, published on July 23, is not extended by at least 30 days. 'Many names of those who voted last time are missing. Names of people who died three or four years ago are still on the list," he alleged. The Congress leader also claimed that several voters' names had been moved from the wards they reside in and added to other wards. 'Even people from the same household have been included in different wards," he claimed. He further alleged that some officials who collected voter information had 'manipulated the list with the help of local CPM leaders". Satheesan pointed out that although the ward delimitation exercise has been completed and the voters' list published, the ward sketches have not yet been provided. 'Now, people are being asked to apply for corrections within 15 days—something that has never happened before," he claimed. 'In this situation, the time to rectify errors in the voters' list should be extended to at least 30 days. There is a deliberate attempt to prevent the correction of irregularities," he alleged. He charged that the Election Commission was 'acting in line with the wishes of the CPM leadership." 'The commission is trying to sabotage the election by ensuring that polling does not end even by 10 pm. If it refuses to reconsider its stand, the UDF will take legal action," he claimed. Satheesan also alleged that the division of wards was carried out 'in violation of a directive issued by the High Court." The date for the local body polls is yet to be announced. However, there was no immediate response from the LDF. PTI LGK SSK SSK ROH view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 18:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kollam student death: Opposition leader VD Satheesan demands audit across schools in Kerala
T'puram: Opposition leader V D Satheesan slammed the state govt for not ensuring the safety of children and demanded an audit of all schools after a 13-year-old student was electrocuted at Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam. "The govt and the public education department must be prepared to audit the physical conditions in the state's schools and face an investigation," Satheesan said. "The electricity line has been running over the playground at the Thevalakkara school for years. The bicycle shed is constructed underneath it. Mithun climbed onto the roof of the bicycle shed through the classroom window to retrieve footwear. There are allegations of a delay in turning off the electricity line. How did the school receive a fitness certificate with such a dangerous electricity line passing through? Was the fitness certificate given because it is a CPM-run school? Or has the school been operating all this time without a fitness certificate? The govt, the public education department and the minister have the responsibility to answer these questions," the opposition leader said. The govt should be ready for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to the student's death at the school, Satheesan said, adding that legal action should be taken against those responsible. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Is Catching Attention Among People Managing Blood Sugar bio-nutrabalance Undo "It must also be ensured that such negligence does not occur in any school in the state," he said. Satheesan said that the opposition had raised a similar demand for an audit of schools when a 10-year-old girl died from a snakebite in the classroom in Wayanad five years ago. However, the govt and the public education department were not ready to take action, he alleged. "A child lost his life due to your negligence. If children's safety cannot be ensured in schools, what is the point of having such a govt and education department?" Satheesan asked. There is severe negligence in the public education sector, in addition to the health and higher education sectors. This is the situation everywhere. There is no government here to ask or speak up, Satheesan said.
New Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
LoP V D Satheesan seeks vigilance probe into corruption in Kerala Digital University
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan wrote a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday, urging the immediate formation of a special vigilance team to investigate serious allegations of corruption, financial fraud, and irregularities at Kerala Digital University. In the letter, Satheesan raised grave concerns over the functioning of the university, particularly pointing to the role of India Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre—a private company that partnered in the graphene project, which the chief minister had publicly championed. He alleged that the company began operations only after the government order on the project was issued but received advance funds even before completing necessary official procedures. 'It is deeply shameful for the state that such blatant corruption has occurred in a project of this scale,' Satheesan wrote. He claimed that various projects meant for the university are being hijacked by private interests using shell companies floated by faculty members. 'Reports suggest that some teachers have formed more than five companies to swindle project funds and are using university-paid staff to run these firms,' he alleged. The opposition leader further stated that in addition to Rs 94.85 crore granted by the Union Ministry of Electronics, the state government has also committed significant funds to the graphene initiative. He said this makes the alleged misuse even more serious. Satheesan also flagged concerns over the misuse of infrastructure, alleging that a building leased by the university for the proposed Digital Science Park—built at a cost of crores—was being used to house employees of private firms. 'These corrupt and misguided moves are unfolding right under the Chief Minister's leadership,' he said in the letter.
New Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan slams draft amendment on solar power
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan has demanded the withdrawal of the draft amendment on renewable energy regulations related to solar power plants, warning that it could cripple solar power generation in the state. 'The draft amendment mandates a three-phase connection for installing solar panels with a capacity of 3 kilowatts and requires those producing 5 kilowatts of solar power to store 30% of it in batteries. It also includes levying a surcharge of Rs 1 per unit of electricity generated, to be paid to KSEB, and implementing net metering for those producing above 3 kilowatts. None of these conditions are acceptable." "If the amendment is enforced, all solar plants in the state will be forced to shut down,' said Satheesan. He criticised the recommendation to use batteries from two unavailable brands in the market, calling it corruption. 'This is a pro-private, anti-people decision. Both the government and the Electricity Regulatory Commission should roll back the proposal immediately,' added Satheesan.
