Election officer orders closure of medical store opened by Twenty20

District Collector N.S.K. Umesh, who is also the district election officer and returning officer for Ernakulam Parliament constituency, has ordered the closure of a medical store opened as an extension of the Food Security Market at Kizhakkambalam, a flagship project of Twenty20, a political outfit promoted by Kitex Group.

The medical store, which offers discounts of up to 80%, was inaugurated by Sabu M. Jacob, president of Twenty 20, which is contesting from Ernakulam and Chalakkudy Parliament constituencies, on March 21 nearly a week after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) had become operative. The order to shut down the store was following an inquiry by the MCC Nodal Officer on a petition by two residents of Kizhakkambalam who alleged that it violated Section 123 of the Representation of the People’s Act against bribing voters. The company said that it would seek a legal remedy against the order shortly.

Responding to the allegations, the party contended that the food security market was being operated using the Corporate Social Responsibility fund of Kitex Childrenswear Limited and merely facilitated by Twenty20 Association, a charitable society. The political party, Twenty20, has nothing to do with the market. Regarding the video of Mr. Jacob’s speech at the inauguration of the medical store, it reasoned that it was not a political function but that he attended it as a director of Kitex Childrenswear Ltd., which is also the licensee of the medical store.

However, the MCC Nodal Officer observed that the Twenty20 political party, the food security market and the Twenty20 Association shared the same logo. The officer also noted that Mr. Jacob, during the inauguration of the store, promised access to food materials at 50% and medicines at 80% discount across the State if it was voted to power. “There is a material advantage to the voter, i.e., discounts as high as 80% in the medical store leading to gratification of the voter.”