Ex-DGP Sreelekha Violated Poll Code by Sharing Unauthorised Survey: Minister V Sivankutty

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Tuesday alleged that former DGP R Sreelekha, now a BJP candidate in the ongoing civic polls, violated the election code of conduct by posting an unauthorised survey favouring the NDA on her social media page.

Sivankutty said the act amounted to a grave breach of election guidelines, stressing that it was "astonishing' for a former top police officer to disregard rules she once enforced. Sreelekha is contesting from the Shasthamangalam ward in Thiruvananthapuram.

The minister claimed that sharing such survey findings ahead of polling was a deliberate attempt to mislead voters and influence the democratic process. He alleged that those apprehensive about the continuation of development initiatives in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation were resorting to "fake figures and illegal surveys' to sway public opinion.

Calling it an "insult to democracy,' Sivankutty said individuals who once held key law-enforcement positions ought to safeguard democratic values rather than undermine them. He urged the State Election Commission to take immediate and stringent action against those flouting the model code of conduct.

The first phase of voting in the local body elections was underway across seven southern districts of Kerala on Tuesday.