In the 2024 general election, Suresh Gopi, won the seat by over 74,000 votes, defeating CPIs V.S Sunil Kumar and Congress K. Muraleedharan in a three-way contest.
Published Aug 12, 2025 | 2:46 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 12, 2025 | 2:46 PM
Suresh Gopi
Synopsis: The Congress has filed a complaint against BJP MP Suresh Gopi, alleging fake voting and criminal conspiracy in Thrissur, naming his relatives in the case. Kerala Minister V Sivankutty demanded a re-poll, alleging large-scale voter list tampering. Gopi, who won by over 74,000 votes
The Indian National Congress has lodged a formal complaint against BJP MP and Union Minister Suresh Gopi and several others, alleging fake voting and a criminal conspiracy in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, on Tuesday, 12 August.
In the 2024 general election, Suresh Gopi, won the seat by over 74,000 votes, defeating CPIs V.S Sunil Kumar and Congress K. Muraleedharan in a three-way contest.
DCC president Joseph Tajet, former MP T.N. Prathapan, and former MLA Anil Akkara submitted the complaint in person to the Thrissur City Police Commissioner, demanding a case be registered and the alleged transfer of votes from other constituencies to Thrissur be probed.
It’s learnt that the complaint names Suresh Gopi’s brother, Subhash Gopi, and his wife, Rani Subhash, accusing them of having votes in both Kollam’s Eravipuram constituency and in Thrissur.
While registered at their family home, Lakshminivas, in Kollam (booth number 84, serial numbers 1114 and 1116), they allegedly cast votes in Thrissur during the Lok Sabha polls — a violation of election laws.
At the same time, allegations have also surfaced against Suresh Gopi’s driver, S Ajayakumar. It’s alleged that he was registered as a fake voter in Thrissur. Documents surfaced showing him as a voter in Thiruvananthapuram’s Sasthamangalam ward for assembly and local body elections.
Following the complaint, Thrissur City Police are set to launch an investigation, with ACP Salish Shankar assigned to investigate.
City Police Commissioner R. Ilango said legal advice would be sought to determine whether a case could be registered and the subsequent course of action.
The opinion of the Thrissur District Collector who is also the District Electoral Officer will also be sought by the police.
Meanwhile, Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty urged the ECI to order a re-poll in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, citing reports of large-scale voter list manipulation.
Sivankutty alleged that 30,000–60,000 votes may have been fraudulently added, with media reports showing 8–15 votes registered in several flats. He accused Gopi of staying silent to avoid admitting the alleged malpractice, claiming the victory was achieved by manipulating the rolls and spending huge sums.
The minister demanded Gopi resign and recontest if confident. His remarks follow Sunil Kumar’s renewed accusations linking BJPs win to voter list tampering, with a promise to move court with evidence. The BJP has not yet commented.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar and Sreelakshmi Soman)
