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LDF
campaign material seized from govt press
Express
News Service
Thiruvananthapuram,
May 3: The ruling LDF may find itself in a fix after electioneering
materials for Thiruvananthapuram North LDF candidate and Speaker
M. Vijayakumar were seized from State-run Audio Visual Reprographic
Centre here yesterday by Returning Officer and RDO Tinku Biswal.
The materials were being printed at the centre using the name of
a fictitious press.
The seized materials included about 50,000 copies of the first and
last pages of a multi-colour Vikasanavarthakal printed in newspaper
format on Vijayakumar’s achievements.
The name of the press was given as Chandra Press in the material
with LDF campaign committee convener K.C. Vikraman’s name going
as the publisher. No other detail like location of the press etc
was mentioned. The publication is dated April 30.
A case was registered
in this connection and the RDO is examining the seized materials.
The incident came to light after some UDF workers, who got information
about the clandestine work at the reprographic centre, brought the
matter to the RDO’s notice early on yesterday afternoon. The
RDO rushed to the centre located at Vattiyoorkav with a large police
contingent and got hold of the materials.
By then, UDF
candidate K. Mohankumar and several UDF workers gathered before
the centre demanding action against Vijayakumar. The UDF candidate,
who was allowed to enter the centre after much arguments with the
police, asked the RDO to seal the centre as he suspected similar
misuse of the centre by several other LDF candidates.
Tension gripped the area following the arrival of several LDF workers.
There were also allegations that UDF workers were attacked by the
LDF activists.
Later, addressing a press conference, Mohankumar said that the matter
was a blatant violation of Representation of People’s Act.
While 50,000 copies of Vikasanavarthakal were seized, several copies
were found in the process of printing. It had now become clear that
LDF candidates were misusing the reprographic centres in the state,
he alleged.
Mohankumar said while he could bring out only one campaign material
so far, seven materials were brought out for Vijayakumar. Each of
them bore the name of Chandra Press as printer.
Incidentally, several official printing works like preparation of
voters list were being handled by the reprographic centre.
Printing campaign materials in such a centre ‘‘is as grave
as minting counterfeit currency at Reserve Bank,’’ observed
Congress leader Sarachandra Prasad who attended the press conference.
So far, there has been no official reaction from any LDF leaders
to the incident. Speaker Vijayakumar, busy electioneering, was not
available for comments.
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