The Congress party has lodged a formal criminal complaint against Union Minister Suresh Gopi, accusing him of submitting a false affidavit to be included in the voters’ list of Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Details of the Complaint
A delegation led by former MP T. N. Prathapan submitted a complaint to the Thrissur City Police Commissioner, alleging that Gopi falsely declared that he and his family had resided in a Thrissur residence for six months prior to the election—a mandatory requirement for voter registration. Prathapan asserted that Gopi did not, in fact, live there during the stipulated period.
According to the complaint, Gopi and 11 of his family members were added to the supplementary voters’ list after the final list was published, based on the allegedly forged affidavit. The Congress contends that such deception makes Gopi’s vote unlawful. This, they argue, possibly invalidates his electoral victory, calling for both criminal action and cancellation of his vote.
Prathapan also pointed out that the names of Gopi and his family members still appear on the voters’ list of Shasthamangalam ward under the Thiruvananthapuram city corporation, where they allegedly never resided. He criticized local authorities for previously ignoring their concerns despite raising them before the 2024 polls.
Political Ripple Effects
The new allegations come amid heightened scrutiny of Kerala’s voter list integrity. The BJP, through state secretary M. T. Ramesh, dismissed the claims, asserting that all additions to the Thrissur voters’ list were made following Election Commission guidelines and accompanied by proper documentation. He framed the complaints as politically motivated, arguing they question the electorate’s judgment rather than reflect procedural violations.
Context & Significance
Suresh Gopi, a prominent actor-turned-politician and Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Tourism, made history by becoming the first BJP MP from Kerala—winning Thrissur by over 74,000 votes in May 2024. Any legal findings that undermine the validity of his voter registration could have serious implications, potentially leading to the annulment of his election victory and disqualification from Parliament.
Previously, the Congress had petitioned the Election Commission on similar concerns, but no subsequent action was reported. This FIR signals a firm escalation, with party leaders now seeking tangible legal repercussions.
What’s Next
- The police will investigate the submitted complaint and determine whether grounds exist for charges of submitting false information under election law or forgery.
- Depending on the outcome, the EC or judicial system may be petitioned to scrutinise the election results for potential electoral malpractice.
- BJP’s next move—whether seeking to dismiss the case or proactively providing evidence of residency—could shape the trajectory of this politically charged controversy.