LDF’S Shylaja moves EC over character assassination
KOZHIKODE: Hiting below the belt has become a norm in parliamentary election campaign in Kerala, especially in Vatakara constituency where Youth Congress leader Shafi Parambil, MLA, is taking on KK Shylaja (Teacher), MLA, a former health minister of ruling Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPIM), who received accolades for her excellent handling of COVID crisis and Nipah onslaught.
In a latest development, Shylaja lodged a complaint with state Election Commission (EC) alleging that character assassination atempts are being carried out through fake campaigns with the knowledge and support of United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Shafi Parambil.
According to Shylaja, cyber atack is being unleashed against her by UDF supporters to taint her image before the public to reap electoral benefits.
“This cannot be done without the silent blessing and support of UDF candidate Shafi Parambil”, she said.
In her complaint, Shylaja points out that photographs are being morphed, dialogues are edited and fake cards of media houses are being widely circulated to create a bad impression among the voters.
Though she had lodged a police complaint earlier, no step was being taken.
“An atempt was made to tarnish my image by forging leterhead of religious leader AP Aboobacker Musliar. In yet another operation, a fake news card of Mathrubhumi online was being released quoting comments on Love Jihad, which I did not make. The fact is that, neither did I make such a statement nor did Mathrubhumi release a card in connection with this,” Shylaja, who represents Matanur constituency in the state legislative Assembly, told media persons at a press conference on Tuesday.
“By morphing photographs, editing dialogues and tampering with video clips, UDF wants to portray me as a communalist,” she said.
Alsoontuesday,shafiparambil,whowaselected to the state Assembly from Palakkad constituency, moved the Kerala High Court seeking deployment of central forces in polling booths in Vatakara constituency to prevent possible bogus voting in the April 26 elections.