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Sobha Surendran Denies Cash-for-Vote Charge, Alleges Political Conspiracy

NDA candidate Sobha Surendran has vehemently denied allegations that a BJP worker distributed money to a voter in Palakkad, labeling it a scripted conspiracy to tarnish her image during the final campaign phase. She asserted her visit was solely to meet a cancer patient and plans to file a police complaint against a media outlet and reporter. The BJP leader also accused Congress workers of following her vehicle and claimed such incidents are orchestrated due to anticipation of a BJP win. A firebrand leader, Surendran has been a significant electoral figure for the BJP in Kerala, improving the party's vote share in recent contests.

Key Points: Sobha Surendran Rejects Cash-for-Vote Allegation in Kerala

  • Denies cash-for-vote allegation
  • Plans legal action against media
  • Claims visit was to meet cancer patient
  • Alleges Congress workers followed her
2 min read

Sobha Surendran rejects cash-for-vote charge; alleges conspiracy to tarnish image (Lead)

BJP's Sobha Surendran denies Palakkad cash-for-vote charge, calls it a scripted conspiracy to malign her image ahead of Kerala polls.

"Votes will be sought only on the basis of politics and development. I will not withdraw from this stand until the truth is established. - Sobha Surendran"

Palakkad, April 8

NDA candidate Sobha Surendran has strongly denied allegations that a BJP worker distributed money to a voter in Kerala's Palakkad area, terming the charge a "scripted attempt" to malign her during the final phase of campaigning for the Assembly polls.

The BJP leader asserted that she would pursue the matter legally, including filing a police complaint against a media organisation and its reporter, whom she accused of conspiring to damage her public image.

Addressing the media, Sobha maintained that her visit to Kannadi panchayat had nothing to do with electioneering malpractice and was solely to meet a cancer patient.

She dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically-motivated, claiming that her growing acceptance among voters had unsettled her opponents.

"Votes will be sought only on the basis of politics and development. I will not withdraw from this stand until the truth is established," she said.

The BJP leader also alleged that Congress workers followed her vehicle during the visit, prompting her to question their actions.

According to her, the situation escalated when one of the individuals accompanying the car made an inappropriate gesture. "If anyone behaves in a manner that would offend a woman, I will question it. That is exactly what I did," she said, claiming that such incidents were being orchestrated in anticipation of a BJP victory in Palakkad.

Her response comes amid a politically-charged atmosphere in the constituency, where allegations and counter-allegations have intensified ahead of polling.

A firebrand leader of the BJP in Kerala, Sobha Surendran has been a prominent face of the party in multiple electoral battles.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sobha Surendran contested from Alappuzha and, despite finishing third in the contest, she succeeded in improving the party's vote share.

Earlier, in the 2021 Assembly elections she secured a strong second-place finish in the Kazhakootam constituency, underlining her electoral significance within the party's state unit.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Whether it's true or not, these allegations just make voters more cynical. Everyone claims conspiracy. I wish politicians focused more on their actual work for the cancer patient she mentioned, rather than the political drama around the visit. 🤷‍♀️
A
Arjun K
Strong response from her. Filing a police complaint is the right step. If the media report is false, they should be held accountable. We need more politicians who stand their ground legally instead of just giving emotional speeches.
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Sarah B
The allegation about the inappropriate gesture, if true, is completely unacceptable. That should be investigated separately from the cash-for-votes issue. Politics shouldn't become this ugly, especially towards women candidates.
V
Vikram M
With her track record of improving vote share, she is clearly a threat in Palakkad. This smells like a last-minute attempt to derail her campaign. But voters are smarter now, they see through these games.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, while she denies it, the EC must investigate thoroughly. The claim about visiting a cancer patient is a common cover. We need transparency from all sides, not just strong denials. Our democracy deserves cleaner elections.
M
Meera T
The "scripted attempt" line is telling. Kerala's political theatre is intense!

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