The Kerala Election Commission is investigating allegations of a communal campaign announcement made by the LDF, following a complaint from the UDF, raising concerns about religious polarisation in the upcoming elections.
The EC has issued a notice to LDF convener T P Ramakrishnan, who is contesting from Perambra Assembly seat, seeking an explanation from him regarding a recorded announcement from a campaign vehicle of the Left Front, a senior official said.
The recorded announcement reportedly said that the IUML, a key constituent of the Congress-led UDF, was running a communal campaign to seek votes for Thahiliya.
The UDF has filed a complaint, "so let it be investigated," a senior official from the district collectorate said, and confirmed that the returning officer of the constituency has issued a notice to LDF.
Following the development, Ramakrishnan told a TV channel that the LDF does not agree with the announcement in question, and it has not authorised any such recorded message.
The LDF convener said that the front has only highlighted the development work carried out by it in the constituency and the state.
Later at a press conference, he said that the LDF has no complaint in connection with the issue. At the same time, he reiterated that the Left Front did not carry out any such announcement as alleged against it.
He also denied having received a notice from the EC in connection with the matter.
The UDF, on the other hand, claimed that the LDF was carrying out a "communal campaign" similar to the 'kafir' screenshot controversy that occurred at the Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency during the 2024 general elections.
That controversy pertained to WhatsApp messages, falsely attributed to the UDF, which urged Muslim voters not to vote for LDF candidate K K Shailaja as she was a 'kafir' (non-believer).
The UDF, back then, had alleged that CPI(M) linked social media handles created and spread that message.
Congress leader V D Satheesan on Friday claimed that despite clear evidence against some leaders of CPI(M) and its youth wing DYFI, with regard to the circulation of the 'kafir' screenshot, the police under Pinarayi Vijayan closed the case, saying that the actual culprits could not be found.
Satheesan alleged that the "communal campaign" in Perambra was part of Vijayan and CPI(M)'s decision "to take support of any devil to retain power" in the face of their impending defeat.
He said that it was the CPI(M)'s delusion that it can escape the public sentiment against the Pinarayi Vijayan government "by fostering religious rivalry and creating communal polarisation".
"The CPI(M) and LDF should keep in mind that Kerala is waiting to sweep away their anti-people government," he said.
IUML supremo Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said that the UDF does not seek votes on religious grounds.
"Such unnecessary propaganda will have consequences," he said.
Earlier in the day, UDF candidate Fathima Thahiliya said that a complaint for violation of the Model Code of Conduct had been lodged with the EC and welcomed the action taken by the poll panel on it.
She claimed that since it was a recorded announcement which was played from the campaign vehicle of the LDF, "it was a pre-planned move".
"Let it be investigated. We want registration of an FIR," she said.
Thahiliya, who has been fielded by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), also contended that it was clear from visuals of the recorded announcement being played that the vehicle was part of the LDF campaign.
"So, it cannot be brushed aside as a simple matter," she said.